Being Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.’s Son is a Blessing, But also a Burden

Published

8 years ago

February 28, 2017

Being the son of a famous father can be both a blessing and a burden, but maybe more of the latter for second-generation fighters who follow in their daddies’ very large footsteps. Case in point: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who, in his 13½ years of plying the family trade, has been given the benefit of every doubt because of his regal bloodline, yet continues to be widely viewed with skepticism because of the long, inescapable shadow cast by his Hall of Fame pop, whose accomplishments were such that he was adoringly nicknamed “JC Superstar” and El Gran Campeon (“The Great Champion”) by his many fans.

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., now 54, is the most celebrated fighter ever to come out of his boxing-crazed country of Mexico. From 1980 to 2005 he compiled a 107-6-2 record with 86 victories inside the distance, winning six world titles in three weight divisions and setting records by participating in 31 championship bouts with 27 successful defenses. He went 89-0-1 in his first 90 pro bouts, and set another record, for largest attendance for a boxing match, when 132,274 spectators filled Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca on Feb. 20, 1993, to see him batter Greg Haugen into submission in five rounds.

Even should the 31-year-old Chavez Jr. (50-2-1, 32 KOs) get lucky– he’s an opening-line 7-to-1 underdog — and land a big shot to take out Canelo Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) on May 6 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the non-title victory (set for a catch weight of 164½ pounds) might not endear him as much as he might wish to the rabid Mexican fan base that so worshipped JCC Sr. Alvarez is the current darling of most Mexican fight fans, more a successor to the elder Chavez than his kid could ever hope to be, and an upset win by Junior would only serve to torpedo the much-anticipated matchup of Canelo and Gennady Golovkin in September, which Alvarez’s promoter, Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya, said is “100 percent guaranteed,” provided his fighter gets past the celebrity son and Golovkin (36-0, 33 KOs), the WBC/IBF/IBO middleweight champion, survives his March 18 unification showdown with WBA titlist Daniel Jacobs (32-1, 29 KOs) at Madison Square Garden.

Chavez Jr. is a former world champion, having claimed the WBC middleweight title on June 4, 2011, when he dethroned Germany’s Sebastian Zbik, who was handed the belt when Sergio Martinez was stripped by the Mexico City-based organization for reasons that still remain somewhat unclear. Junior – who has a history of problems making weight as well as dealing with banned substances – made successful defenses against Peter Manfredo Jr., Marco Antonio Rubio and Andy Lee, but he was on the wrong end of a serious beatdown against Martinez on Sept. 15, 2012, when he scored a late knockdown in the 12^th and final round. A buzzed Martinez survived until the final bell and won going away on the scorecards by margins of 118-109 (twice) and 117-110.

Can Junior do unto Alvarez what he nearly was able to do in the closing moments against Martinez? It isn’t out of the question; Junior of late has been campaigning as a light heavyweight, and Canelo never has weighed in at more than 155 pounds, although he held (and relinquished) the WBC middleweight championship. Junior could come in as high as 180 against Alvarez, and his size advantage should not be discounted, nor should his desire to gain respect on his own terms.

“This fight is to show that I’m better than Canelo,” Junior said. “Canelo thinks he’s one of the greatest, but, no, I am.”

If there is a hint as to the confidence level Senior has in his son, it’s that JC Superstar got Junior to back off on his heat-of-the-moment pledge to make the Alvarez fight a winner-take-all affair. “I do not agree with the bet,” Senior said. “This fight is about pride and honor. Betting (your entire purse) is not a good idea.”

We shall see if Junior’s faith in himself is justified. But history would seem to be working against him. In boxing – in most sports, really – fathers (and sometimes brothers) who bear the stamp of greatness raise the bar so high that their kinfolk seldom come close to clearing it. Take baseball, for instance: brothers Hank and Tommie Aaron hold the major league record for most home runs hit by siblings. Hank had 755, Tommie 13. And so it is in the ring. Consider this list of fighting fathers/brothers who climbed higher and faster than relatives who discovered that shared DNA doesn’t guarantee similar levels of success:

Joe Frazier and Marvis Frazier

Smokin’ Joe (32-4-1, 27 KOs) won the “Fight of the Century,” scoring a unanimous decision over Muhammad Ali on March 8, 1971, in the first of their three classic matchups, and the lethal left hooker from Philadelphia is on many experts’ top 10 list of all-time heavyweight champions. The gentlemanly Marvis (19-2, 8 KOs) was good enough to be considered a heavyweight contender for a time, but he was trained by his dad to fight in the same bombs-away Frazier style, which proved disastrous in first-round stoppages against Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes.

Muhammad Ali and Rahman Ali

He called himself the “Greatest of All Time,” and Muhammad Ali (56-5, 32 KOs) just might have been worthy of such a designation. He was, at the very least, the Hank Aaron of boxing. Younger brother Rahman (14-3-1, 7 KOs) was a closer parallel to Tommie Aaron.

Aaron Pryor and Aaron Pryor Jr.

“The Hawk” (39-1, 35 KOs), who was 60 when he died on Oct. 9 of last year, is widely considered the greatest 140-pound fighter of all time. His son and namesake, 38, is a super middleweight who is 0-3-1 in his last four ring appearances to drop his record to 19-10-2 with eight wins inside the distance.

Hector “Macho” Camacho and Hector Camacho Jr.

A slick southpaw who was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall in 2016, the elder Camacho (79-6-3, 38 KOs) was a three-division world champion with dazzling hand speed, nimble footwork and a flamboyant style. Hector Jr. (58-6-1, 32 KOs), also a lefty, is a 38-year-old veteran who bears his father’s name but doesn’t come close to having the same elite game, never having fought for a world title.

Salvador Sanchez and Salvador Sanchez II

Were it not for the 1982 car crash that ended his life and career at 23 years of age, Salvador Sanchez (44-1-1, 32 KOs), the reigning WBC featherweight champion, might have become the greatest 126-pound fighter of all time. Some would argue he is still in that conversation. Salvador II (30-7-3, 18 KOs) is still active, but is on a three-bout losing streak.

Thomas Hearns and Ronald Hearns

Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs), a 2012 inductee into the IBHOF, had a devastating overhand right and reigned in five weight classes. His son, Ronald (28-6, 22 KOs) wasn’t exactly a chip off the old block, but he did manage a shot at WBA super middleweight champ Felix Sturm in 2011, losing on a fifth-round stoppage.

Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Robbie Sims

With his shaved head and menacing scowl, Hagler (62-3-2, 52 KOs) was one of the most-feared middleweights ever to step inside the ropes, and with good reason, appearing in 15 world title bouts and going 13-1-1, the only smudges being a controversial draw in his first bout with Vito Antuofermo and the similarly disputed split-decision loss to Sugar Ray Leonard. Half-brother Robbie Sims (38-10-2, 26 KOs) was no slouch, but lost both of his bids at a version of the 160-pound crown.

Wilfredo Vasquez and Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.

One of Puerto Rico’s most honored fighters, Wilfredo Sr. (56-9-2, 41 KOs) was a three-division world champion whose son, Wilfredo Jr. (24-7-1, 19 KOs), also made some noise, if not quite as much as his father, in winning the WBO super bantamweight title.

Chris Eubank and Chris Eubank Jr.

Chris Sr. (45-5-2, 23 KOs) – whose nickname was “Simply the Best” — was 16-0-2 in super middleweight title bouts until the Englishman was outpointed by Steve Collins in 1995. Chris Jr. (25-3-1, 13 KOs) has yet to fight for a world championship, but he is still only 27 and rated No. 7 by the WBC in his dad’s former weight class, so the window of opportunity presumably is still open.

George Foreman and George “Monk” Foreman III

In both phases of his Hall of Fame career, Big George (76-5, 68 KOs) was a devastating force of nature, twice winning the heavyweight title – the second time at 45 years of age. George III (16-0, 15 KOs) had a good thing going against second- and third-tier opponents, but, at 35 and not having fought since 2012, it would seem he’s thrown his last punch as a pro.

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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

David A. Avila

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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.

Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.

It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.

Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.

In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.

Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.

You never turn your back.

The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.

For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11^th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”

In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.

There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.

In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.

“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”

Fundora

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.

Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.

Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.

No one argued the stoppage.

Other Bouts

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.

Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.

After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.

Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.

Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.

Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.

Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.

Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.

This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.

It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.

Semi-wind-up

SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,

Other Bouts

Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.

In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.

Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.

Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.

Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12^th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.

In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.

Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2024

David A. Avila

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Those lightweights.

Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.

Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.

Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.

“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.

Even in Las Vegas.

Verona, New York

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.

Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.

“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.

Foster disagrees.

“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.

Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).

Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.

“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.

Muratalla likes challenges too.

“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.

Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship

WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.

Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.

But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.

“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.

In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.

Bad choice for Mucino.

Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.

Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.

Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.

Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.

“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.

It should be exciting.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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