03.02.09 – by James Slater – Unbeaten light-middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Junior takes another step closer to what he hopes will be an eventual world title fight when he faces the once-beaten Carlos Nascimento on March 28th. The fight will make up a third of the triple bill planned for Mexico (site to be determined). WBC super-featherweight champion Humberto Soto will also be in action, defending his title against an as yet TBA, while fellow Mexican Fernando Montiel will meet Puerto Rico’s Eric Morel in a bout that will decide the interim version of the WBO bantamweight crown..
It should be some night, especially if the usually exciting Soto faces a stiff opponent. Though the Chavez Junior bout may turn out to be the least meaningful of the three match-ups, the son of a legend is arguably the biggest name appearing on the card. But will 30-year-old Brazilian Nascimento prove to be a worthy opponent for the fighter who will have turned 23 come fight night?
Nicknamed “The Butcher,” the 21-1(18) Nascimento has boxed in Mexico before. In fact, he fought there last time out, winning a 3rd round retirement victory over local journeyman Ulises Duarte – this match actually being the fifth fight, and win, in a row for Nascimento in Chavez country. Most of the 30-year-old’s other bouts have taken place in his native Brazil, though he did have one fight, his biggest to date, in Germany.
Losing to the allegedly avoided WBO 154 pound champion Sergiy Dzinziruk in his sole attempt at winning a world crown, Nascimento was stopped in the 11th round back in May of 2007. Not a bad showing for the Brazilian, then. The young Chavez, unbeaten as he is in 38 fights (one draw), has never met anyone as formidable as the dangerous Ukrainian. And though “The Butcher” lost to Dzinziruk, he at least has the experience of having met such a fine fighter.
Looking down Nascimento’s record, there is no-one else that comes close to being as good a fighter as the WBO champ, though. Many of the 30-year-old’s wins have actually come against guys with losing records. With 18 KO’s to his name, Nascimento clearly has some punching power, but it would be one huge shock if he were to stop the title bound Chavez JR.
Young Julio looked good in his last fight, when he widely out-pointed Matt Vanda over ten rounds in their Nov. 2008 rematch. The first fight had been close, due to Chavez entering the bout with a virus more than anything, and many felt Vanda had pulled off the upset. Back on top form, however, Chavez showed his talent. We’re still waiting for the soon-to-be 23-year-old to get in the ring with a fighter who will provide him with the real acid test, and this wait will not come to an end in March.
Nascimento is a fair opponent, but Chavez, unless something unexpected happens, will handle him well enough. Look for Junior to improve to 39-0-1 on the 28th.