Moments after Julio Cesar Chavez Junior captured the World Boxing Council’s middleweight title on Saturday night at Staples Center, his promoter Bob Arum was already hyping up an early October match with Junior and Puerto Rican veteran Miguel Cotto.
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Chavez Junior captured his first world title by fighting in spurts over the 12 championship rounds, focusing his attack on the body, and winning a close majority decision. Two offical score cards had Chavez winning 115-113, 116-112, and one had the bout tied 114-114. Even the highly biased Mexican broadcast company, TV Azteca, has the fight 114-114 with Chavez having to win the final two rounds just to mark a tie.
So as Chavez looked lackluster, squeaking out a win against a marginal world class fighter, is he ready for Cotto?
No, not at all, and unfortunatley for those who would have Chavez Junior explode into a boxing super nova, he might never be ready for Cotto, Sergio Martinez, or any other elite world class fighter.
I did not see him do it Saturday night from his ringside seat, but I would not be surprised if Miguel Cotto was visibly licking his chops at a Chavez Junior. Advertisement
Junior does not have the zip in his punches to dissuade the metronome-like offensive attack of a fighter like Miguel Cotto, and Zbik proved time and time again Chavez will be available for all of Cotto’s punches to land.
While a rematch with Zbik would be the right fight if the sport was based on competition, Arum has to cash out on a sinking investment in Chavez Junior. Not only did Chavez Junior fail to deliver a stunning performance, but he was unable to cash in on his father’s name (son of the great Julio Cesar Chavez Senior) to sell a significant amount of tickets.
Sources close to the Staples Center box office, inform me that Chavez sold less than 3,000 tickets for Saturday nights fight.
It will be interesting to see if Chavez was able to lure in a television audience when Nielson ratings for the fight are release, as it was carried by HBO in the United States.
If we see Cotto – Chavez in October, it will likely be the last time we see Chavez in boxing’s center stage.
