Boxing roundup by Matthew Hurley: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 35-0-1 with 28 KOs scored an eighth round technical knockout over Jose Celaya, 31-4 with 16 KOs Saturday night in Guanjuato, Mexico, winning the World Boxing Council continental super welterweight title. Fighting on the same card was his younger brother Omar Chavez who knocked out Miguel Camacho in the first round for the sixth victory of his career.
Also on the card, former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, 48-3-1 with 42 KOs registered a third round TKO over Matt Weishaar, 3-0-2 with 2 KOs in a scheduled four round contest. The bout had come under scrutiny after a protest was filed by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABA) concerning the licensing of Morrison. In a statement by Tim Lueckenhoff, President of the Commission, the ABA contended that “Mr. Morrison not be allowed to participate in any professional boxing matches until, and unless, he satisfies certain medical testing, as otherwise would be required prior to Mr. Morrison participating in a professional boxing match in the United States.”
Being outside of US jurisdiction the fight went on as scheduled but was taken off the ‘Latin Fury’ pay-per-view telecast. Morrison had not fought since February of 2007 when he defeated John Castle by third round knockout. That bout marked his return to the ring after an eleven year absence. He had retired in 1996 after testing positive for HIV. Morrison has since claimed that he is not HIV positive.
Former WBO light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, 52-4-1 with 40 KOs knocked out Shelby Gross, 16-4 with 13 KOs in the first round at the Sheikh Rashid Hall in the Dubai World Trade Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Gross was knocked down twice before being stopped at the thirty-two second mark.
Another come-backing heavyweight, Joe Mesi, 36-0 with 29 KOs will headline the April 4th edition of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights against an opponent yet to be named. It will be Mesi’s eighth ring appearance since suffering a brain bleed in his 2004 victory over Vassiliy Jirov. The fight will take place in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
WBA middleweight title holder Felix Sturm will return to the ring on April 5th at the Burg-Wachter Castello in Germany against an opponent yet to be named. Sturm last fought in October, settling for a twelve round draw against Randy Griffin.
Finally, on February 29th IBF featherweight titlist Robert Guerrero, 21-1-1 with 14 KOs defends his title against Jason Litzau, 23-1 with 19 KOs at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino in Lemoore, California. The bout will be broadcast on Showtime’s ‘Showbox’ starting at 11:00 pm Eastern Standard Time. On the undercard heavyweights T.J. Wilson, 12-1 with 8 KOs and Travis Walker, 26-1-1 with 20 KOs will fight a rematch of their controversial first bout back in October. That night Wilson was awarded a technical knockout victory in the first round when referee Raul Caiz Sr. stopped the bout just fifteen seconds in.