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.