The phrase ‘Baptism by Fire’ originates from the words of John the Baptist in Matthew 3:11 in The Bible, and is a popular idiom in English vernacular.
The expression is often used to describe one’s rite of passage via a trying ordeal or crisis situation not experienced before, when one is forced to undertake and persevere in an entirely new, and often-challenging, endeavor.
Come December 13, the last 18 months will have been a ‘Baptism by fire’ of sorts for top tier welterweight Diego Chaves (23-2, 19 KO). On that night, he’ll face top 10 pound-for-pound fighter Tim Bradley, the conqueror of Ruslan Provodnikov, Juan Manuel Marquez, Devon Alexander, Luis Carlos Abregu (currently 36-1, 29 KO) and Lamont Peterson.
(Yes, we excluded Manny Pacquiao from the above because Bradley’s win was so controversial. But if you want to get technical, Tim was the official winner of Pacquiao vs Bradley I so feel free to add Manny’s name to Bradley’s list of vanquished foes. Regardless, wth or without PacMan, that’s a pretty scary list of opponents. )
Bradley vs Chaves will likely headline an HBO tripleheader and the former will be the heavy favorite.
So what’s the big deal?
Up-and-coming fighters face foes like Bradley all of the time, right?
What makes the 28 year old Chaves’ situation so special is that he will enter that bout having already faced two ‘monsters’ in his last three bouts.
Moreover, prior to Summer 2013, he’d fought only once outside of his native Argentina and primarily against non-descript opponents.
Welcome to bigtime boxing!
Sporting a record of 22-0 with 18 knockouts, Chaves faced his first major test in July 2013 when he stepped up in class to challenge the explosive, heavy-handed Keith Thurman (then 20-18 KO). It was just Chaves’ second professional fight outside the friendly confines of the land known as ‘Sun of May.
Chaves, over the first six rounds, seemed to be outboxing and out-timing the favored Thurman, even appearing to fluster him at times. An upset seemed, at the very least, possible.
But the tide would change.
In the final minute of Round 9, Thurman floored a badly hurt Chaves twice. The courageous Argentine would rise after the first knockdown but not the second.
Last February, Chaves easily dispatched Juan Alberto Godoy (then 31-13-1) before taking on the ‘tough as nails’ Brandon Rios (then 31-2-1) in August.
The Argentine enjoyed some success against the two-time world champion but committed a fatal error in Round 9. In that stanza, in what had been a foul-filled but exciting affair, Chaves intentionally elbowed Rios in the face. Despite Rios’ previous fouls, the infraction was Chaves’ third intentional penalty, prompting the referee to disqualify him.
The Argentine was ahead by a point on two of the three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
Chaves’ next foe will not be the most explosive or hardest punching opponent Chaves will have had to face but the speedy Tim Bradley is one of the most crafty, technically-brilliant fighters in the sport today, and certainly Chaves’ most accomplished opponent to date.
No easy task for a courageous young man who has accepted a ‘Baptism by fire’ into big time boxing.
If Chaves becomes a star, he will have taken no shortcuts on his rise to the top.
