14.07.08 – by James Slater: Unbeaten light-middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Junior kept his undefeated record on Saturday night in Mexico, as he won a split decision over a very tough Matt Vanda. But in improving to 37-0-1(29) Chavez was unable to either score the KO he so badly wanted, or even to win clearly. Indeed, the 22-year-old was hit plenty in the second half of the fight, when his energy level was severely depleted. On the verge of real exhaustion, Chavez held on to scrape his spilt decision victory..
But the result was roundly booed, in particular due to the quite ludicrous 100-90 score turned in by Mexican judge Francisco Mouret (the other two judges had it 97-93 for Chavez and 96-95 for Vanda). There was simply no way Chavez won by a shout-out, as this official had it. Showing their disgust, fans pelted the ring with ice and beer – a scene that upset and angered Julio Cesar Chavez Senior.
According to a news bit on FightNews.com, Chavez senior spoke to TV Azteca post-fight, and revealed how his son should not have fought as he was ill going in.
“I don’t like excuses,” J.C Senior said. “But by son made a super-human effort, he fought sick and wanted to cancel the fight. The doctor gave him a shot because he had a fever after the weigh-in.”
What Chavez Junior had to say after the fight got the most attention, however. And rightly so, considering the shocking things the young fighter said!
“The people wanted me to score a knockout, but I could not,” J.C Junior said immediately after the fight . “The people are very, very un-content with the result, and what can I tell you? What can I tell you as a fighter? Everything is just very sad – because of the fight – I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what I will do. I need to think about it real hard. I am considering retirement.”
It certainly would be a hugely surprising turn of events if Chavez did indeed call it quits. Maybe he was simply talking in the heat of the moment, after having put on a show he himself was very displeased with. After all, Matt Vanda, while a good fighter, was not expected by most fans to give the Mexican star such a hard fight. In many eyes, however, Vanda, who fell to 38-7(21), won the fight. No doubt the 29-year-old will call for a rematch.
Time will tell if Chavez Junior really is contemplating retirement, or if he merely said he was on the spur of the moment.