By Robert Jackson: What this writer saw Saturday nite certainly validates Julio Cesar Chavez Jr as one tough HOMBRE as well as a much improved as a prize fighter. To Andy Lee’s discredit Lee failed to ‘stick and move’, boxing, as Manny Steward implored him to do during the intermission between rounds. Andy Lee laid on the ropes, didn’t fight in the middle of the ring and didn’t box and use lateral movement as Steward chastised him to do. To this writer it looked like Andy Lee didn’t have any legs left or maybe those legs were taken away by the body work put in by the Mexican. The punching power that Lee normally shows also left him on Saturday nite and Chavez Jr showed a great chin absorbing everything the Irishman had to offer.
This past Saturday nite Chavez Jr. gets an ‘A’ in all of the categories a championship caliber fighter must possess, after a slow start Chavez Jr. broke Lee down finishing him in the 7th round. Next up for Chavez Jr will be Sergio Martinez (hopefully) and many fans, critics and boxing insiders are making this fight a 50/50 fight based on the best fight of Chavez Jr’s career – against Lee. It was also said pre-fight that the Lee fight would be Chavez Jr’s last fight at 160lbs, so where will a fight against Martinez take place?? At 168??
Style wise the ONLY thing Lee and Martinez have in common is the southpaw stance which Chavez was able to circumnavigate against Lee.. Lee’s immobility also played into the Chavez Jr’s hands as he stayed directly in front of the champion, not offering angles or stepping out forcing the champion to reset before punching. This will not be the case against Martinez who’s southpaw style is based on movement, counterpunching and great defense. Martinez will not be there to be hit after his attacks, his counterpunching will be sharp and he has underrated punching power – based on good timing. The only thing Martinez has to worry about having classified himself as a junior middleweight who happens to fight at middleweight, will be the size and weight advantage that Chavez Jr. will most surely enjoy on fight night. Along with that size, the 6’1” Chavez Jr will have a strength and power advantage over the 5’10” Martinez. But to Martinez’ credit he mainly boxes and only trades when it is to his advantage, and, uses his movement to navigate out of harms reach.
A matchup between Chavez Jr and Martinez will be a matchup of styles, with the much improved Chavez’ size and strength going up against a master boxer in Sergio Martinez. Only 2 questions need be answered – will it happen?…and if so will it be for the 160lb title? If Chavez Jr. does move up in weight, Sergio Martinez has said he won’t move up to face him. And at 160lbs even an improved Chavez Jr. will have his hands full against the man called Maravilla.