CHAVEZ JR. DARN LUCKY FIGHT WAS IN MEXICO
Brockton, MA– Home cooking was the fare in the Tijuana, MX main event as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. won a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Luciano Cuello. (WBC 154 lb. regional title) Though lacking power (an ingredient you will find in most Chavez foes), Cuello (23 1-0, 9 KOs) proved to be tougher than the Chavez (39-0-1, 29 KOs) camp expected. Bleeding from the nose early, Cuello made the fight as he was aggressive from the first bell. Although several rounds were close, you could see Jr. wasn’t performing anywhere near expectations. Cut over the right optic, by the sixth it was clear that Chavez was troubled and thrown off his game by the Cuello jab.
DAD KNEW KID WAS LOSING TO HANDPICKED GUY Energized by his iconic father Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. finally woke up in the eighth. A chaotic rest period did not affect Chavez as he came out with more aggression for the final two rounds, even though it was unnecessary because in WBC championship fights the scores are read to the audience after the fourth and eighth rounds. Unfortunately for Cuello, he needed an unlikely knockout to win. Final scores: 98 92, 96 94, 96 95, at best Jr. might have deserved a draw!
SOTO DRILLS FOE & KEEPS WBC 130 LB. TRINKET
Humberto Soto KO4 Antonio Davis: Another late substitute with about 25 days notice, Davis (26 5-0, 13 KOs) was never in the fight. Antonio was decked in the last seconds of the opening round. Soto (47 7 2, 30 KOs) uncharacteristically started fast and never slowed. Davis was able to recover slightly in round two, but at the same time was cut over his left eye. Soto initiated such a chaotic pace and hurt Davis badly with right hands, knocking him down twice. Landing the right at will, Soto stopped Davis for the first time in his career at 2:38 of round four.
VETERAN DIAZ POST TOUGH POINTS WIN
Antonio Diaz W10 Javier Castro. With just two weeks notice, Castro (19-2-0, 17 KOs) put forth a great performance he subbed for the injured Jose Luis Castillo. These men commenced to hurting each other in the first round and did not look back. A nonstop toe-to-toe infighting clinic ensued and continued throughout all ten rounds. The end result was Diaz (46-5-1, 29 KOs) earning a close but well deserved unanimous decision. Scores were 95-94 and 96-93 twice (Castro was deducted a point for a low blow in the ninth round).
MONTIEL NOW FIGHTING AT BANTAMWEIGHT
Fernando Montiel KO 3 Diego Silva (WBO Interim 118 lb. title). Late in the second, Silva (24 2 3, 12 KOs) got clipped on the chin and knocked down by a Montiel right hand. In the next round, Montiel (39 2 1, 29 KOs) connected with a short left hook, again knocking the outclassed Silva down and nearly out early in the third. Fernando ended the night with a perfectly timed left hook at 2:24 of the round.
Edwin Ayala