Heading into tonight?s main event in San Antonio, Texas, there were a lot of question marks surrounding Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Whether it was due to his performances in the past or new future after hooking up with trainer Freddie Roach, all eyes were on young Chavez tonight and he didn?t disappoint.
Over twelve action packed rounds Chavez and Ireland?s John Duddy engaged in a heated, back and forth affair that had the crowd at the Alamodome on its feet. Chavez Jr. showed some new elements to his game and both were in tremendous shape. Chavez started fast and controlled the early action with his range and power punching on the inside but Duddy was there every step of the way.
The 4th round was a memorable one as the action picked up. Fighting as if they were in a phone booth, the two men hacked away at one another and you had to wonder when one of them would begin to give. Duddy?s best round was the sixth as he appeared to rock Chavez with a right hand halfway through. Keeping his composure, Chavez covered up and boxed his way out of trouble.
The ninth was another hellacious stanza as Chavez seized full command of the action. He began to tag Duddy at will and the New York transplant appeared to be in serious trouble. To Duddy?s credit he showed an iron will and his chin was stout enough to hold up to the incoming but he was taking a serious beating.
As the championship rounds closed Chavez Jr. applied more pressure and began to dominate the action in all areas. Duddy was game but had no answer for his younger foe?s activity. After twelve round scores of 120-108, 117-111, and 116-112 were are read in the Sinaloa, Mexico native?s favor as Chavez ups his record to 41-0-1 with 31 knockouts. Chavez Jr. was coming off of a lackluster decision over Troy Rowland last November in Las Vegas and restored much of his luster with tonight’s outing. Duddy falls to 29-2 with 18 KO’s in his second decision loss.
The bout was ruled as a Middleweight eliminator but who knows what direction Chavez will go from here with a rumored shot at Miguel Cotto’s 154 pound WBA belt on the table. Whatever happens it was definitely a step in the right direction for Chavez Jr.
More Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. coverage
Chavez Jr. still learning on the job
?Oh yeah there are a lot of positives, don?t get me wrong,? Holloway said. ?In the ring you gotta understand that anybody can be outboxed on any given day. Chavez is somewhere that I am not right now, he?s number one in the world. So I would never take anything away from him. There are a lot of guys who are number on the world and they get sparring partners take them to school some day. That?s just boxing. There are world champions who get their ass whopped in the gym.?… (Click for more)
