Ringside report from Staples Center in LOS ANGELES, California – Julio Cesar Chavez defeated Sebastian Zbik by majority decision on Saturday to win the WBC middleweight title, a significant victory gift for his father, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr., who likewise won his first world title – WBC super Featherweight Championship – in Los Angeles over Mario Martinez via TKO round 8 back in 1984.
But, grueling controversies stoke the heart of the Germans in the audience and of Zbik’s team and supporters, among a few scribes and fans who believed and may still believe, as of this writing, the German landed enough punches to retain his title, if not to win over the son of the Aztecs. Two judges scored the fight for the Mexican, 115-113 and 116-112, while the third had it a draw.
Zbik, the defending champion, threw 834 and landed 391 punches for a 47% connect rate. Chavez, Jr. threw 796 and landed 256 for a 32% connect rate. For power punches, Zbik threw 623 and landed 335, establishing 54% connect rate while Chavez, Jr. threw 724 and landed 242 , bearing 33% connect rate.
Zbik, in a condescending tone, congratulated his opponent, Chavez, Jr., but never backed down saying, “I knew if the fight were that too close in Los Angeles, the judges would give the decision favorably to Chavez, Jr.”
“I know I won this fight. I landed more punches. And look at the scores on these papers by the judges. They are funny figures,” said Zbik who planned to file a protest with the California Athletic Commission.
Like Zbik, Dietmar Poszwa, his manager, congratulated Chavez, Jr without submission to such defeat.
“Fist of all, Congratulations to both fighters for the very good fight. With great respect for the Chavez corner. And also in our opinion and with everybody that I talked to, Sebastian (Zbik) did not lose the fight as he mentioned before. He came here as the world champion. He has thrown more punches than the challenger. He hits more often than the challenger. So, we are all proud of Sebastian (Zbik). He made a good fight. And to your question … right now we are very upset. So, I think it is best to come down a little bit. and then we will analyze the fight. And then we are going to do so.” Said Poszwa referencing to Zbik”s intent to file a protest of the decision.
For Arum, the process of judging and arriving at a decision is simply subjective implying of potential lapses.
“The decision is purely subjective,” said Arum. “But I just want to point out with our friends in the media. The judge, John Keane, who had shown widest score (166-122) for Julio (Cesar Chavez, Jr.) is not an American, not a Mexcian. He is an Englishman. He is one of the top judges of the world who is completely new.”
Meanwhile, Freddie Roach, Chavez, Jr.’s trainer, maintained that the kind of punches Zbik landed had less destructive effect versus the Mexican’s “bombs of combinations”.
Roach came on the defensive as well saying, “We clearly win the fight. Julio did enough in the last four rounds. And there’s one thing about pitty-patty punches versus stronger combinations.
Chavez, Jr. improves 43-0-1. Zbik had his first loss and now has 30-1-0.
Neither parties issued challenge for a rematch, as of post-fight press conference.
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