Los Angeles, Ca-June 4th, Mexican star and “Son of a Legend” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.(43-0, 30 KOs) won the now bogus WBC middleweight(160lb) title from unworthy belt-holder Sebastian Zbik (30-1, 10 KOs) at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The irony was that the true linear champion, former WBC champion Sergio Martinez(47-2-2, 26 KOs) (who was stripped for refusing to fight Zbik because HBO would not approve him as a legitimate opponent), sat on the sidelines from the sixth row. Chavez won a somewhat controversial decision and is deemed by many an unworthy champion with limited skills, but isn’t limited in terms of connections as he is promoted by the powerful Top Rank empire. This Saturday another Mexican star appears on HBO in defense of his WBC 154lb title.
Saul “Cinnamon” Alvarez
Saul “Canelo”(Cinnamon) Alvarez (36-0-1, 26KOs), is a 20 year old phenom who looks to be the heir-apparent to past Mexican legends like 2011 Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee Julio Ceasar Chavez Sr.(107-6-2, 86 KOs). The difference between Alvarez and Chavez Jr. is clear. While both have been fed mostly handpicked opponents, Alvarez, already popular in Mexico in his own right, appears to have a bigger upside.
ALVAREZ HAS SHOWN SOME FIGHTING ABILITY
Alvarez won a dominant unanimous decision in his first HBO appearance March of this year over limited but tough Matthew Hatton(41-5-2, 16 KOs), brother of former 140lb champion Ricky Hatton(45-2, 32 KOs). Canelo, is surprisingly mature for his age. The 20 year-old fights relaxed, has good boxing skills and reflexes. The most spectacular win of his career came last September over former 147lb champion Carlos Baldomir(46-13-6, 14KOs). His bout in March showed his drawing power with the estimated attendance for the bout at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Ca being well over 11,000.
CHALLENGER IS A JOURNEYMAN CONTENDER
The Redhead faces a formidable challenger in England’s Ryan Rhodes(45-4, 31 KOs). Rhodes has fought exclusively in the United Kingdom, and is a true veteran starting his career in 1995. At age 34 this appears to be his first and last shot at stardom and would be a huge upset if he can knock off the potential superstar.
FIGHT WILL BE STAGED IN MEXICO
This will be Rhodes first fight in enemy territory, as the two will battle 12 scheduled rounds of sanctioned mayhem in Jalisco, Mexico. Rhodes, an unknown to American fans and media alike will most likely need a knockout to win, and much like the fiasco weeks ago where Chavez Jr. weighed in the day of his middleweight title fight at 180lbs (15 lbs more than Zbik) the cards are stacked against him. Lets hope that Rhodes at least comes to win and will be competitive, even if he’s being brought in as cannon fodder for the Mexican.
Kevin Perry