SONAHR: Halifax, Nova Scotia – March 2, 2014 – ?March Madness? is usually the domain of the massive NCAA U.S. college basketball tournament. This year, though, boxing can also stake a claim to that territory, especially considering the compelling bouts that marked the beginning of the month this past Saturday.
The biggest contest wasn?t even for a world championship. It was a super-middleweight rematch between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Bryan Vera. In their first encounter, Chavez came in over the weight limit and the decision in his favor was widely considered to be a rip-off. This time, Chavez made the 168-lb limit and left no doubts as to the judging as he pounded his iron-jawed but limited foe to garner a unanimous decision over 12 rounds. It was a creditable victory, but Chavez?s options are limited. Dropping back down to middleweight, where he once held a world title, seems out of the question. At super-middle, Andre Ward, Carl Froch and George Groves await. Residing north at light-heavy are super-punchers Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson. Chavez will continue to earn big paydays, but it?s doubtful that he will garner another world title.
Speaking of making weight, WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido forfeited his title on the scales prior to his bout with highly touted two-time Olympic gold-medalist Vasyl Lomachenko on the Chavez-Vera card. This was only Lomachenko?s second pro bout ? or seventh, if you count the five he had under the semi-pro World Series of Boxing banner. Salido used his weight advantage and the savvy acquired during 55 professional bouts to eke out a split-decision win. Lomachenko gave a good account of himself, but he is not in the same league as his Cuban counterpart, Guillermo Rigondeaux.
In the meantime, former middleweight and super-middleweight king Arthur Abraham gained vengeance ? and regained the WBO super-middleweight crown from arch-rival Robert Stieglitz. It was the third meeting between the two. Abraham won a decision in the first fight, while Stieglitz stopped him in the second. This time, Abraham won a unanimous decision, punctuated by a knockdown in the 12th round. Looks like there?s still some life in Abraham, who looked washed up in his previous loss to Stieglitz.
Also, a new star burst on the scene when undefeated U.S. prospect Terence Crawford traveled to Glasgow to challenge Scotsman Ricky Burns for Burns?s WBO lightweight title ? and came away with a unanimous decision victory. Crawford displayed a wide range of skills en route to outclassing the brave but limited Burns. Young Crawford?s level of talent is reminiscent of that of another phenom who made his name as a lightweight a few years back ? namely, Adrien Broner. Here?s hoping Crawford succeeds where Broner ultimately stumbled.
Boxing?s March Madness continues this coming Saturday, with Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez taking on Alfredo Angulo in Canelo?s first outing since his humiliation at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Angulo is a tough nut to crack ? but he can be cracked, as the three losses on his record indicate. If Alvarez hasn?t lost confidence in himself, he should be able to tame Angulo, whose nickname, ?Perro,? means ?dog? in Spanish. On the same card, red-hot Leo Santa Cruz faces veteran Cristian Mijares in a defense of Santa Cruz?s WBC junior-featherweight crown.
After a slow start in 2014, boxing?s March Madness is on its way to becoming a slam dunk for the sport.
