THIS boxing pedigree thing can be quite fiddly. More often than not, the progeny is hardly the chip off the old block that everybody expects. Maybe it has a lot to do with the dimensions of the shoes that need to be filled.
Take Ronald Hearns for example. He?s spiry and lanky like he?s dad, with a record of 26-2, 20KOs. But a ?Motor City Cobra? he?s not.
Or Aaron Pryor Jr. (16-5 with 11KOs) who lost three out of four fights in 2011. Sadly he may never attain the pugilistic heights of excellence soared in by his father who was known as ?The Hawk.?
Today, two sons of boxing legends aim for fistic glory in the same fight card and attempt to prove that they can be just as good, if not better than their talented predecessors.
JC. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is one of boxing?s rising stars. He?s undefeated with a record of 44 wins, 33 via the short route.
Attempting to derail his meteoric rise will be Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5, 46 KOs). He has the skills and the experience to be competitive with JC Jr., but I think youth will be served.
JC?s brawling and smothering style is a family heirloom, but what allows him to do it with impunity is that rock-hard chin, another Chavez family trait.
VASQUEZ. On the same boat will be Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. as he attempts to live up to the lofty ring exploits of his father.
But he has a herculean task ahead of him as he tangles with our very own ?Filipino Flash?, one of the sport?s top pound-for-pound fighters.
Here?s how they stack up:
Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. 21-1, 18KOs
Strengths: Power, boxing skills
Weaknesses: Suspect stamina. Ordinary hand speed. Porous defense.
Best performances: KO4 Marvin Sonsona (February 2010); TKO11 Ivan Hernandez (October 2010).
Nonito Donaire Jr., 27-1, 18KOs
Strengths: Power, speed. Versatility.
Weaknesses: Defense, overconfidence.
Best performances: KO2 Fernando Montiel (Feb 2011); TKO5 Vic Darchinyan (July 2007); TKO4 Raul Martinez (April 2009)
MY TAKE: I?ll come clean and admit I?m jittery about this fight. Much as I believe in Donaire?s skills and power, Vasquez brings a lot to the table, too.
Donaire has a lot more to lose in this fight, taking on a hungry, dangerous contender, coming off the first loss of his career. The need for redemption can fuel a fighter to perform more efficiently than he is used to.
If I were charting Donaire?s career, I?d steer him clear from spoilers such as Vasquez. But as a boxing fan, I?m raving about this fight as this features one of the most exciting fighters in the sport today against an equally skilled, powerful opponent with boxing pedigree to boot.
In round one, Donaire will start off with several lashing jabs and land some hard right hands. The powerful Vasquez will counter with hooks of his own. A close and difficult round to score.
Vasquez gains some momentum in rounds 2 and 3, scoring with several hard shots as Donaire seems to bide his time figuring out Vasquez?s unorthodox style.
In round 4, Vasquez walks into a huge upper-cut and things begin to unravel for him. Donaire unleashes several rapid-fire combinations that has Vasquez reeling along the ropes. He manages to hang on and is saved by the bell.
Vasquez recovers a bit in round 5 and lands some hard hooks. Donaire seems to realize that Vasquez is durable and resilient and decides to box and set traps.
The end comes in round 8 as a left hook-right straight combo deposits Vasquez on the canvass. He gets up wobbly at the count of 7, and the referee, taking a hard long look at his glassy eyes, waives it off.
LAST ROUNDS. Are on me and my sis-in-law Claudine Navarro as we celebrate our birthdays this weekend. Cheers!
