New York, NY – In a rare occurrence of late, boxing has only one televised card this weekend. However, it should make for an entertaining night at the fights, so lets take a look!
TWO “B” LIST PUGS LOOKING TO EARN AN “A”
Two of the most protected fighters in the world finally take a fight of significance when unbeaten, untested thug Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (41-0-1, 30 KOs) throws hands with once beaten and questionable pug John Duddy (29-1, 18 KOs) in a 12 round middleweight (160) encounter at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Saturday at 9 PM ET on PPV.
IS “JUNIOR” THE GOODS OR JUST HYPE?
At the tender age of just 24 years old, the “Son of a Legend” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has already competed in 42 fights without knowing defeat. However, his level of opposition has left much to be desired. Since his professional debut in 2003, Chavez opponents have commonly been comprised of “C” class battlers with losing records. During that span Chavez went “life and death” with two (at best) “B” class fighters and barely crossed the finish line in each. To his credit, Chavez has displayed proven boxing ability; especially in the educated way he varies his punch selection. In addition, by recently hiring Hall of Fame bound boxer/trainer Freddie Roach, Chavez has shown a willingness to continue to learn his craft . At the end of the day, the acquisition of a legendary trainer can only help, plus, Julio can bang some.
TIME FOR DUDDY TO IMPRESS OR GET OUT!
“Ireland’s” John Duddy’s career resembles that of his counterpart. While showing a severe willingness to mix it up against lesser opponents, John Duddy has had issues against average prizefighters. After turning pro in 2003, Duddy won his first 23 contests, with 17 by knockout. In his next bout, instead of stepping up in competition and backing up his promise as “a force to be wrecking with” at 160, Duddy took on a lesser challenge, didn’t prepare properly, and got beat up. Since, John has been pitted with, and beaten the same “run of the mill” type contestants.
DESPITE LACK OF TALENT ON BOTH SIDES, THIS CAN BE A GREAT FIGHT!
While their records are not bad, they are not impressive. This is a fight that will showcase two fighters determination to separate themselves from one another, and the winner will graduate to a higher level playing field. Commonly, this career-defining scenario makes for major fireworks folks!
“REAL” LEGEND RETURNS IN THE OPENER
After a 15-month hiatus, Mexican warrior Marco Antonio Barrera (65-7, 43 KOs) opens the show against lesser experienced, but dangerous scrapper Adailton De Jesus (26-4, 21 KOs) in a proposed 10 round lightweight (135) affair.
“BABY FACED ASSASSIN” NOT BABY FACED ANYMORE
Without question, Marco Antonio Barrera is one of the most crafted and entertaining fighters of the last twenty years, but after waging war after war and giving as good as he got against some of the best boxers in his class for the better part of the last 20 years, one has to wonder how much the great gladiator has left. Marco is coming of a fifth round stoppage loss to current WBA champ Amir Khan.
POWER PLAY?
Before capturing his first loss in his 20th professional about, Adailton De Jesus has turned the lights out of 17 of his first 19 opponents. Albeit against weak opposition, De Jesus showed he can pop. Of late, after a few setbacks and knockout losses, Adailton is riding a four-fight knockout win streak. Adailton’s power punching abilities may serve as the formula to upset fading former champ Barrera.
John Signorella