Last night, the highly anticipated Cinco de Mayo fight weekend was tarnished with a horrible mismatch between Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
From the first to the twelfth round, Canelo Alvarez gave a boxing clinic to the reluctant brawler, Chavez, Jr.
“Tonight, I showed I could move, I could box, I showed as a fighter I can do all things,” said Alvarez in the post-fight interview. “I thought I was going to showcase myself as a fighter that could throw punches, but he just wouldn’t do it. I’ve shown I can do lots of things in the ring, anything a fighter brings – I’ve shown I can showcase myself.
The fight was a huge disappointment to the 20,510 in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and those who spent the $70 to watch via Pay Per View.
Chavez moved backward and was on his bicycle all night, constantly moving away from Alvarez and making no attempt to actualize a real game plan. He looked like a jobber there to pad his opponent’s record.
“Canelo beat me, he beat me at the distance,” said. Chavez, Jr in the post-fight interview. “He is a very active fighter – he’s very good and he beat me. I wanted to box but he went to the ropes and I just needed to throw more punches. I would’ve attacked more but I would’ve been countered by his punches. Nacho told me to do that but the strategy didn’t work.”
Aside from throwing Hall of Fame trainer Ignacio Nacho Beristain under the bus, Chavez looked exactly as he did in a 2015 clash with Andrezj Fonfara, where he was dominated mercilessly and dropped by a left hook in the 9th round. In that fight, Chavez told his corner to stop the bout before the 10th round, giving him his first TKO.
Unfortunately, fans werent so lucky this time around as the Canelo fight dragged on for the entirety of 12 excruciating rounds.
Just when the letdown was setting in as the final bell rang and the judges unanimous decision of 120-108 was read by Michael Buffer, a glimmer of hope erupted in the arena.
Gennady GGG Golovkin was announced as Alvarezs next fight, which will take place on September 16th. Golovkin, who was in the audience with trainer Abel Sanchez and promoter Tom Loeffler, walked into the ring like a made man with a secret.
The fact that the deal was done prior to Alvarez fighting Chavez, Jr was a blessing, but also says volumes about how little respect either side had for Chavez, Jr.
Either way, the world will now finally get the fight they have wanted for a long time. In Canelo vs. GGG, we will get to see who the best Middleweight in the world is. We’ll also get a true fight.
