Glorious Name, Inglorious Performance

Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (L) takes a right hand from Brian Vera

When you hear the name Julio Cesar Chavez, what exactly comes to your mind? Warrior. Winner. Legend.

When you hear the name Julio Cesar Chavez JUNIOR, what exactly comes to your mind? Slow-starter. Poor work ethic. Lacks commitment. Power puncher but has yet to impress consistently. 

When a future star(?) was paired with 6-loss veteran Brian Vera, Chavez Jr. looked anything but impressive. The punches may not have wobbled the Mexican, but his face told the story. Combinations were unleashed. The frequency of punches thrown were bordering around Paul Williams territory each and every round. Wait, this guy was an easy opponent?

As the final scores were read, eye-rolls were met with the decision, justifiably, with Vera’s support group caught saying “THAT’S BULLSHIT” as cameras deadpanned. They were right. A fighter called on to be a tune-up for one of Top Rank’s money-making fighters was outclassed. He landed a few power shots here and there that certainly rocked Vera, but the 31 year old from Fort Worth, Texas was anything but sufficiently hurt. It is a tough loss indeed. One that, say Chavez Jr. had a different last name with a different father, may have got the decision Vera deserved.

What We Learned – Chavez, Jr.

Per the usual, he started slow. His work ethic and training have always been in question, rightfully so when HBO’s 24/7 series documents a fighters every move and he procrastinates working with one of the best trainers of our generation in Freddie Roach for the BIGGEST fight of his career against Sergio Gabriel Martinez. Chavez lacked confidence as Vera, the smaller man, continually bullied him round after round, backing up Jr. up until the ninth when urgency set in.

There were plenty of instances when he tried to bait longtime referee Lou Moret that punches were low. This was not a fight for a major star, rather a bout that showed Chavez’s true colors; when he lets his hands go opponents are stopped in their tracks. When he refuses, rounds are lost (or so we think).

His countrymen want him to be great, the question is does Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. himself want to be great? Does he have the fire to be great? 

Maybe if he sets the alarm clock before the sun sets precious time will be saved to savor his career.

Floyd Mayweather Dominates Canelo Alvarez

Floyd Mayweather (R) dominates Canelo Alvarez
at the MGM Grand on Saturday, September 14th, 2013.

Floyd Mayweather showed his brilliance. Jab, jab jab right down the pipe of the guard(?) of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who clearly still has potential, but is simply no where near the same planet that “Money” Mayweather is currently on. Domination, round after round. Every time there was slight pressure from the 23 year old Mexican who has been straggled along by Golden Boy, Mayweather evaded, confidently escaping any potential harm. He claims to have dislocated his left shoulder. This is the second consecutive fight where he fought with injury (i.e. Robert Guerrero and a broken hand). Yet for some reason, as I watched with friends and family, I knew one thing: if it was not for me encouraging tonight’s fight down their throats, none of them would watch it. None of them would even know of Canelo, who my mother hilariously called “Connor” because she thought he was Irish. This is the story of what is to come. Will those who are just being exposed to pay-per-view Boxing for the first time want to return? Will they dig into their pockets in the year 2013, where the unemployment rate in the United States this past month was 7.3%?

For those of us who love the Mayweathers and the Rigondeaux’s, we question what could be next for Mayweather. Here’s one avenue of thought, go to ESPN.com’s boxing rankings. Search from junior welterweight (140 pounds) to junior middleweight (154). Here are the bouts the moderate Boxing fan may want to see…

Jr Welterweight

-       Lucas Matthysse

o   Just lost to Danny “Swift” Garcia on Floyd’s undercard. Floyd proved against Canelo that power punchers cannot find him and if you try to outbox him he’ll send you home frustrated. Not going to happen.

-       Danny Garcia

o   Just solidified the best win of his career. Showed as much defensively as offensively. Could win more rounds than Canelo. My take (Larry David voice), “Sure why not!”

-       Mike Alvarado

o   No.

-       Brandon Rios:

o   If he beats Pacquiao, maybe, just maybe. Until then: no.

-       Lamont Peterson

o   No.

-       Amir Khan

o   No.

Welterweight

-       Juan Manuel Marquez

o   Marquz is hot after sending Manny Pacquiao into a coma. If he beats Bradley, well good for him. Fact is, we have already seen his true colors vs Floyd in 2009. In short: no.

-       Timothy Bradley

o   The only reason you would want to see Mayweather fight Bradley is if you despise “Desert Storm.”

o   Quick note: Floyd’s nickname is “Money.” When one of the two fighters on pay-per-view do not represent that term, it’s uninteresting. Enough said, not happening.

-       Adrien Broner

o   Will absolutely never happen

-       Devon Alexander

o   Uninterested after his lackadaisical performance against Randall Bailey. Sure he knocked out some guy named Purdy, who came in overweight, and who also has the same last name as my high school gym teacher. Quick answer: Nah, I’m good.

Jr Middlewieght

-       Austin Trout

o   Trout was a tough customer for Canelo Alvarez, who if your name is not CJ Ross, you had Mayweather pitching a shutout. While Trout is a very nice opponent, headlining him against Mayweather is not a fan-friendly affair.

-       Miguel Cotto

o   See Cinco de Mayo, ’12.

-       Erislandy Lara

o   Good boxer, showed myself and “The Cool Out’s” Britton Hardin a lot when he rallied to beat Alfredo Angulo in Carson, California. Still it would be a snooze fest.

Manny Pacquiao

Yes the man deserves his own special little section with his name in bold. Pacquiao faces Brandon Rios since he was knocked unconscious against Juan Manuel Marquez in their 4^th affair. Can the mega-fight between Floyd and Manny happen? Absolutely. If he beats Rios by decision, of course I’ll watch. If he wins by knockout, that will only sweeten the deal for Mayweather.

Recently on TYTSports you saw myself, Britton Hardin (youtube.com/TheCoolOut) and R.A. the Rugged Man, legendary hip-hop artist from New York and big Boxing fan. We talked many subjects, including Floyd-Manny. R.A. made the strongest point of all; the fight should have happened years ago. My viewing pleasure will be blinded during those 36 minutes of action, but afterward, it being a one-sided match, I will still have the thought in the back of my mind: why couldn’t Top Rank and Mayweather Promotions put down their swords, FOR THE FANS? The fight will be good, I will certainly watch, but after the final bell rings and the majority decision goes to Mayweather, we as Boxing fans will all have a sour taste in our mouths, knowing that the biggest bout in the sport’s history should have already occurred.

So Who Should Floyd Fight Next?

My short list is below in no particular order.

-       Manny Pacquiao

-       Danny Garcia

-       Sergio Martinez

-       Gennady Golovkin (Robert Ecksel’s pick)

Before you say (Stephen A. Smith voice) “BLASPHEMY! BLASPHEMY!” let’s just have fun but also be true to the argument at hand. Floyd Mayweather has made the best competition for the last 17 years look at times amateur. He is a great champion, but now is the time to prove he belongs in the argument with Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest boxer of all-time. Step up to fights that are unimaginable to the most loyal fans of the sport. Fight Sergio Martinez, albeit he has suffered injury after injury. A win at a catch-weight will silence the Mayweather naysayers saying he has not fought the best. Fight GGG and dispel the myths of the Kazakh fighter being elite. If he fights these two AND wins, there is no doubt that counter-arguments to Mayweather doubters will be on-point and precise. Go for the big wins. Push the envelope with your competition. Prove you are the best.