For the most part, Sergio Martinez spent his Saturday night on “Daddy Day Care” wiping milk off Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.’s lips. But just when he was about to clock out and call it a night, Chavez clocked him with a couple of left hooks than sent the 37-year-old Argentine boxer down.
So what exactly did we learn from this one-sided box office hit? View slideshow: Martinez v Chavez ringside photos
For starters, it confirmed what I, together with several boxing observers, felt all along: Chavez, Jr. was nowhere near Martinez’s class as a fighter… at least not yet. Martinez was too fast, too slick, and simply too much for the young Chavez who saw himself get turned like a bride at her own reception as his opponent danced circles around him all night long.
We also learned, however, that Martinez is far from invincible. Though it was far too late, and Martinez’s overconfidence and complacency had a lot to do with Chavez, Jr.’s late knockdown in the final minute of the fight, the 26-year-old proved that he is indeed capable of pulling an upset. With 12 rounds against a fighter of Martinez’s caliber under his belt, Chavez, Jr. only stands to benefit and improve. Knowing now what he should’ve done earlier in the fight, and with a little bit more seasoning and a tweak in their game plan, a rematch around the same time next year more than makes sense, and promises to be far more competitive.
Martinez (R) tags Chavez with a jab as he did many times throughout the night. Photo credit: Photo by Jeff Bottari / Getty Images
Credit also goes to Mexican fans with the way they stood by Chavez, Jr. to the end, often egging their boy on with chants of “Chavez!! Chavez!!” and “Mexico!! Mexico!!”, and when his own trainer Freddie Roach seemed to have resigned and even told HBO he mulled throwing in the towel.
And speaking of Roach, and as much as I agree that it’s the fighter that fights the fight inside the ring, his boxers are proving to be more one dimensional with each loss. Roach said his boy was simply too slow for Martinez, but with faster guys against counter punchers who back up and turn away from his fighter’s strong hand like Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, they have failed miserably to cut the ring and remain effective as they are against opponents that come forward and trade. Somewhat giving up on Chavez, Jr. toward the end of the fight sounded a little disturbing to me as well. Should Chavez, Jr. consider a corner change like Khan, who recently linked up with Andre Ward’s longtime trainer Virgil Hunter? It’ll be interesting how Pacquiao looks in a fourth fight with Marquez this December, and the adjustments he and Roach have planned.
Roach’s conversation with HBO’s Max Kellerman in the final rounds of the fight:
? ?Freddie, you told Julio that he needed a knockout to win. How does he get it?? asked Kellerman.
?He?s gotta punch with him, he?s gotta exchange with him, he?s gotta let his hands go. He?s walking in with his head down. He?s gotta let his hands go to knock this guy out,? said Roach.
?Can he [knock him out]?? Kellerman asked.
?I?m not sure. His speed is just so much. His speed is a factor in this fight ? the kid is very fast. We can?t keep up with him ? at least so far.?
?Have you had any thoughts of stopping the fight?? Kellerman followed.
?I did. I said to Julio ?Julio, show me that you want to win this fight.? I?d like to see a little bit more,? said Roach.
?He?s trying really hard, but the speed factor is just too much.?
In a classic matador vs. bull match-up, the matador won with his smarts and skill, but not without suffering a scare and learning to respect the devastation the bull’s horns can inflict is he’s not on his toes.
