Golden Boy Promotions at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, Saturday night promoted the fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, 49-1-1 (34), of Guadalajana, MEX, easily shuts out Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., 50-3-1 (32), of Culiacan, MEX, in a super middleweight bout 12 rounds that didn’t come close to the hype.
In the opening round Alvarez landed good body shots. Chavez used his long reach. In the second round Alvarez showing he’s the stronger of the two countering well. Chavez does little more than using his jab. In the third round Alvarez landed a lead right and left hook to the head of Chavez. Shortly later a strong left hook by Alvarez to the head of Chavez got his attention. A 4-punch combination by Alvarez bloodies the nose of Chavez. In the fourth round it was all Alvarez landing almost at will. In the fifth round a hard lead right by Alvarez to the head of Chavez rocked him. In the fifth round a double right hand to the body and head by Alvarez seemed to hurt Chavez. A lead right by Alvarez knocked the head of Chavez back.
In the sixth round Chavez having Alvarez against the ropes landed a 3-punch combination to the head. Chavez needed to throw more punches in this fight and did. In the seventh round Chavez landed a 3-punch combination while having Alvarez against the ropes. Alvarez came right back with half a dozen punches driving Chavez across the ring. In the eighth round Chavez does his best having Alvarez against the ropes landing a flurry of punches but Alvarez fights his way out of it backing Chavez up. Alvarez lands half a dozen punches without return from Chavez backing him up. In the ninth round Alvarez gets a warning from referee Kenny Bayless to keep his punches up. Once again Chavez has Alvarez against the ropes doing his best but getting a warning of his own to keep his punches up. While inside in the middle of the ring Alvarez lands a couple of good uppercuts to the chin of Chavez. In the tenth round a good Alvarez left hook to the side of Chavez did some hurt.
In the eleventh round Alvarez is teeing off on Chavez who seems content going the distance. Alvarez seemed to land a hard right body shot to the side of Chavez but got a warning from referee Bayless. In the twelfth and final round Alvarez is going for a knockout throwing punishing rights to the head of Chavez who is getting booed by the crowd. Chavez is still throwing jabs like it was the first half of the fight. It ended like a glorified sparring session with Alvarez winning every round.
All 3 judges and this writer had it 120-108.
Featherweight southpaw Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz, 24-0 (13), won easily over Manuel Avila 22-1 (8), of Downey, CA, for a NABF Featherweight title defense.
In the first two rounds Avila is getting his lead right thru the defense of the southpaw Diaz. In the third round it was close with neither taking charge. In the fourth round Avila went to the body very well. In the fifth round Diaz finally looked better than he had in the previous rounds. Avila had some swelling under his left eye and a small cut on the eyebrow. Diaz has had swelling under his left eye.
In the sixth round thru the eighth Diaz seemed to be in control. In the ninth round Diaz rocked Avila with a straight left to the head. In the tenth knowing he was behind Avila couldn’t get that kayo punch in as Diaz kept control of the fight. Tony Weeks was the referee.
Judges scores were 100-90 while 99-91 twice. This writer had it 98-92.
Welterweight Lucas “La Maquina” Matthysse, 38-4 (35), of Bueno Aires, Jr., stopped Emmanuel “Tranzformer” Taylor, 20-5 (14), of Edgewood, MD, at 2:21 of the fifth round.
The opening round was all Matthysse who landed a right hand to the left shoulder of Taylor almost knocking him down just prior to the bell. In the second round Taylor was on the defense with little offense due to Matthysse coming forward throwing plenty of punches. In the third round a head butt caused Matthysse to receive a cut on the right eyebrow causing blood to come down the side of his face. Shortly later bleeding from the nose. In the fourth round Matthysse continued going to the body of Taylor. Just prior to the bell a Matthysse left hook drove Taylor into the ropes. In the fifth round a left hook by Matthysse to the body of Taylor started the downfall of Taylor with three more punches dropped Taylor. Referee Jay Nady wise waved it off upon Taylor’s rising.
Middleweight David Lemieux, 38-3 (33), of Montreal, CAN, defeated a bloody Marco “Durado” Reyes, 25-5 (26), of Chihuahua, MEX, over 10 rounds.
In the first round it was all Lemieux mostly working the body keeping Reyes on the run. In the second round Reyes was walking forward landing arm punches when Lemieux landed a left hook opening a cut over the right eye of Reyes. In the third round a bleeding Reyes got nailed with a Lemieux left hook to the head. Shortly later a Lemieux right hand rocked Reyes. Lemieux was landing punches almost like at will but Reyes was taking the punches well though his face was covered head of Reyes blood to start again. A straight right hand by Lemieux knocked out the mouthpiece of Reyes who immediately grabbed Lemieux so referee Robert Byrd was forced to call a halt for replacing the mouthpiece. In the fifth round early Reyes was holding his own landing some good body shots. Lemieux seems to be slowing down.
In the sixth round Reyes walked into a strong left hook by Lemieux. In the start of the seventh Lemieux landed a lead right to the head of Reyes. A left hook by Lemieux almost dropped Reyes who was holding on after that shot. Reyes got on his bicycle. In the eighth round a Lemieux lead right had Reyes knees buckled. Reyes came back landing half a dozen body punches. Reyes landed just after the bell and Lemieux came back with a right hand. Byrd took away a point from Reyes. In the ninth round Lemieux came back continuing the beating of Reyes. In the tenth and final round a Lemieux combination to the head of Reyes had his head bouncing back. Reyes came back rocking Lemieux with several rights to the head.
Judges had it 99-90 twice and 98-91 as well as this writer had it 98-91.