By Robert Jackson: This coming Saturday nite Mexico’s other favorite son will be going up against Kronk middleweight Champion Andy Lee. Chavez Jr. couldn’t have chosen a more worthy opponent this side of Sergio Martinez, and Martinez should get his crack at Chavez Jr. and the title if Chavez defeats Lee.
Not moving so fast let’s talk about the back-story of this fight, Chavez a 6’1” middleweight usually comes into the ring at cruiserweight on fight night after having made the 160lb limit only a day earlier. Andy Lee as mentioned before is the Kronk gym middleweight champion who fights under the watchful eyes of Kronk head trainer Emanuel Steward. The same Manny Steward who analyzes fights for HBO and has seen Chavez Jr. in action on a couple of occasions on HBO’s air.
One would have to believe during his analysis of Chavez Jr’s. fights against John Duddy and Marco Rubio, Steward must’ve checked off bullet points on his check list regarding Chavez Jr’s strengths and weaknesses. Steward must’ve been thinking about throwing Andy Lee’s hat in the ring at some point to face Chavez Jr. Steward probably had been brewing up a concoction in terms of a strategy – a game plan for Lee to beat Chavez Jr. prior to this fight being made, and it was only made because of Steward’s reconnaissance. And on Saturday nite we’ll see what Andy Lee has to offer.
Without Steward, Lee probably would’ve been relegated to journeyman by now, but with Steward, who’s training ability honed by 35+ years of experience, having trained Thomas Hearns, Hilmer Kenty earlier, Cornelius Bundrage and Wladimir Klitschko lately, to name a few; Lee has managed to rise to higher level pugilistic prowess. Reclamation and rejuvenation is one of Steward’s great contributions to his fighters most of whom have suffered terrible losses only to be restored by Steward’s training practices. Chavez Sr. was trained by Steward in the later years of his career, which probably added a few more years and victories to it. K9 Bundrage, prior to hooking up with Steward who trains and manages him, was journeyman fighter with a limited upside, under Steward’s watch Bundrage is now IBF 154lb champion. Miguel Cotto called on Steward after devastating losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao; and under Steward’s tutelage Cotto won the WBA 154lb crown. And look at what Steward has done with Wladimir Klitschko?
All-in-All if Lee is to pull off a victory against Chavez Jr. who will outweigh Lee by 10 or more pounds; Lee will have to stick to the gameplan made for him by Steward which will probably be to ‘box’ and avoid brawling with the bigger man. If Lee does this he could come out on top/victorious, on Saturday nite and will owe a lot of his success to ‘hard work’ and Manny Steward.