Last night Julio Cesar Chavez Jr ran his record to 45-0-1(30) and not only survived but dominated in his battle with Marco Antonio Rubio. Many people felt that Chavez was facing his first big test against a legitimate top 10 middleweight in Rubio. Chavez fought with heart and determination and took the fight to Rubio. Many people have not been giving Chavez Jr the respect he deserves whether it is just or unjust one thing is clear, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is a fighter. There are two things that you cannot teach a fighter you either have or you simply don?t; that is a heart and a chin.
When everything seemed to be chaotic in his corner from Ariza apparently working as a cut man to his father yelling in between rounds and pacing back and forth, the one person who kept his composure was Chavez. It was revealed earlier during the broadcast that Chavez was arrested for a dui two weeks ago and it suggests that perhaps Chavez did not train as hard. At the weigh inns Chavez struggled mightily to get to 160 and 24 hours following the weigh inn he blew up to 181. I thought Ariza was in charge of getting Chavez into shape? Chavez entered the fight against Rubio as a cruiserweight. From the moment the bell sounded Chavez took the fight to Rubio, Rubio did not have to go looking for Chavez as Chavez was in his face throughout the bout.
One thing that Chavez has struggled with in his professional boxing career is his legitimacy as a fighter. Showing up not in your best in the most important bout of your career may suggest that he is not taking his career seriously, but seeing him in the ring suggests that no matter what is going on around him he has the composure of a veteran fighter. The haters will tell you Rubio was overrated but less than 48hours before many so called experts expected Rubio to stop Chavez Jr like he did to Lemieux. Like him or not Chavez is a legit top ten middleweight.
Who will Chavez fight next?
After his victory he acknowledged that the weight cut was hard and after 8 rounds he felt his legs weakening. His weight could be an issue in future fights if he does not live a disciplined lifestyle. He mentioned Sergio Martinez name but we all know Arum makes the calls as far as who Chavez will fight next. Rumours? have been circulating that Andy Lee could be the next opponent followed by Margarito and than possibly Sergio Martinez. In other words Chavez fighting Martinez will have to wait until Martinez gets old. I think that Golden Boy and Top Rank need to get together and make Chavez Jr. vs. Canelo in Mexico. It would be one of the highest attended fights of all time and will make us forget just for one day the endless Pacquiao vs. Mayweather talk. Chavez may never be the great fighter his father one but he is carving out his own reputation and in order for him to be accepted amongst his peers he is going to have to fight Sergio Martinez. After all the fame and money the only thing left in a boxers career is his reputation and for Chavez if he does not fight the best than he will never climb out of his father?s shadow.
