10.06.08 – by James Slater: Hot 154 pound prospect Julio Cesar Chavez Junior steps back in the ring this coming July 12th. Boxing once again in his home country of Mexico, the unbeaten 22-year-old will be having what is already his third fight this year. After getting past southpaw Jose Celaya in February and then the previously unbeaten Tobia Giuseppe Loriga in April – winning both bouts by stoppage after having had a few rocky spells beforehand – Chavez Jnr now faces Minnesota’s 29-year-old Matt Vanda.. Vanda, who has fought a lot of his recent fights up at middleweight, is another reasonable, yet not too dangerous, challenger for the Mexican star.
With a decent 38-6(21) record, the 29-year-old known as “The Predator” has been in with a few good names during a pro career that began in March of 1996. Vanda’s best win is probably his split decision points victory over the tough Luis Ramon “Yori Boy” Campas. Vanda beat Campas in a light-middleweight clash that took place in June of 2005 and at the time, Campas, who is still fighting today, had quite a lot left. A pretty good win for Vanda then.
Also going in with good fighters like Anthony Bonsante and Sebastian Demers, losing to both men on points, Vanda has only been stopped once in his entire career. Going out in 8 rounds against Armando Velardez back in August of 2004, in what was Vanda’s first loss, the 29-year-old has proven to be pretty durable otherwise. Can he give the 36-0-1(29) Chavez Junior a testing fight?
Regrettably, and in a word – no! Vanda is neither a southpaw (with lefty Celaya giving Chavez Jnr trouble with his stance) nor a big puncher. And Vanda’s recent form hasn’t been that great either – with four defeats coming in his last seven fights. The best Vanda will be able to manage, in this writer’s opinion anyway, will be to take Junior into the second half stage of the fight. I don’t see “The Predator” getting blown away quickly, but Chavez Junior will not let Vanda ruin any of the big plans he has for his future.
Look for Chavez Jnr to score a stoppage in around 7 or 8 rounds in Veracruz, Mexico on July 12th. Then, hopefully, the 22-year-old will take a step up in class and face someone (anyone!) other than Hector Camacho Junior later this year.