Page 36 - Boxing News Magazine (January 2020)

ACTION

+++++ OUTSTANDING ++++ GOOD +++ FAIR ++ DISAPPOINTING + RUBBISH

Reporters’ star ratings for main events and undercards are based on in-ring entertainment, competitiveness and whether overall expectation was met
Photo: ED MULHOLLAND/MATCHROOM
Chavez has poked fun at boxing
SEASONAL
RESULTS for too long, writes Matt Christie BLOODIED:
Chavez will
soon want
O RICHARD no more
RIAKPORHE dropped PHOENIX,AZ
Derbyshire’s Jack DECEMBER 20
Massey in the 12th
and final round
to secure a points + MAIN EVENT
victory (115-113 +++ UNDERCARD
twice and 117-111)
and the vacant JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JNR opting to wear
British cruiserweight yellow boots, blue shorts and matching
title inside York Hall hair was the only brave decision he made
on December 19.
in Phoenix. Such garishness made him hard
O ON the same to miss as Daniel Jacobs out-landed the
bill, there were Mexican and short-changed fans pelted
also victories for him with food and beer as he scurried to
welterweight Luther the changing room after he suddenly quit
Clay over Freddy before the sixth round.
Kiwitt (ud 10), Comparisons were drawn with the fate
super-welterweight his father suffered in the same Resort CLOSE THE DOOR
Kieron Conway Arena in the aftermath: In 2005, the then-
(who outpointed
Craig O’Brien over 43-year-old called time on his career after
five rounds of his bout with Grover Wiley.
10) while light- start and finish with their bloodline; Senior ON YOUR WAY OUT
heavyweight Craig But any link between the Chavezes should
Richards was forced
to settle for an eight- crafted a Hall of Fame career long before
round draw against realising he didn’t have the tools or hunger this kind of outing? No, those who should He bullied Rosales to the ropes and
Chad Sugden. anymore whereas Junior has greedily be held accountable are the promoters – plunged a right hand and left hook into his
feasted on his father’s reputation ever Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn is just the latest man. Defenceless and victory long beyond
O TWO days later since. Senior shaking his head in disgust at in a long line – who clutch at straws by him, Rosales was rescued by referee Raul
in Ontario, CA,
Jermell Charlo ringside should be the final act of his son’s selling Chavez Jnr as a viable attraction and Caiz Jnr at 1-19 of the session. Swansea’s
regained his WBC perennial con job. ensure the fans are pulling the shortest unbeaten Jay Harris is next for Martinez in
super-welterweight The story of this bout was among 2019’s straw of all by paying for such nonsense. Frisco on February 29. The Welshman faces
title when he gained worst. Chavez – who had done zero to In fairness, the undercard was better. a gargantuan mission.
revenge over Tony merit this multi-million-dollar opportunity Mexico’s Julio Cesar Martinez underlined There were useful victories for two
Harrison, stopping – refused to oblige when the Voluntary his potential when he overran Nicaraguan British fighters. Liverpool’s Liam Smith
him in round 11. On Anti-Doping Association (VADA) requested Cristofer Rosales in nine rounds to win closed his solid 2019 campaign at 3-0
the undercard in a a sample from him in October. It resulted the vacant WBC flyweight title. when he outpointed veteran Roberto
light-heavyweight in the fight being moved from Las Vegas to Martinez courted controversy in 2019. In Garcia over 10 rounds (scores were 99-91
bout, Andre Dirrell
returned after a Phoenix and a Nevada judge only granting August he struck the fallen Charlie Edwards twice and 98-92). Weighing 159 3/4lbs
21-month lay-off to the suspended fighter an injunction and the announced third round KO was for the second successive bout, Smith
halt Juan Ubaldo four days before the contest. The farce immediately changed to a no-contest by – who has only lost to Canelo Alvarez
Cabrera in five snowballed at the weigh-in when Chavez the watching WBC president Mauricio and Jaime Munguia – again showed
rounds. turned up five pounds over the 168lb Sulaiman. The ordered rematch came to off his considerable class to stifle the
super-middleweight limit. He would lose nothing when Edwards – then WBC 112lb effectiveness of his opponent. With the
O ON December $1m from his purse; chump change when champ – announced his intention to move right opportunity, Smith can claim a major
23, in Yokohama, compared to what he’s fleeced from the up in weight. The Mexican’s positive test belt in 2020.
Japan, Ryota Murata industry in recent years. for clenbuterol also disappeared when the Josh Kelly was criticised in June
capped a fine 2019
when he defeated For the sake of balance, we should WBC declared they were bringing their when he was held to a draw by the wily
Steven Butler via mention that Chavez had been battling rules in line with new World Anti-Doping “New” Ray Robinson on the Andy Ruiz
fifth-round stoppage solidly before his surrender, but that Agency (WADA) guidelines regarding the Jnr-Anthony Joshua undercard in New
in a middleweight admission only makes the ending even fat-stripping drug: Due its widespread use York. The Sunderland man claimed to
bout scheduled for worse. We should also highlight his in Mexican and Chinese livestock, athletes have banked valuable lessons from the
12. Moruti Mthalane reasons for quitting – he claimed he was from those countries with small traces experience but there was evidence during
successfully struggling to breathe after taking headbutts of clenbuterol in their system can claim a points win over Wiston Campos that
defended his IBF and elbows – contradicted the official innocence due to accidental ingestion. his hands-down style needs further work.
flyweight strap when announcement of a broken hand. Trainer But Martinez ended the year on a high A last round knockdown cemented Kelly’s
Akira Yaegashi
was thwarted in the Freddie Roach, who need not be criticised with victory over Rosales. The underdog victory – he won unanimously via two
ninth, and WBC light- for jumping on the money wagon, backed had some success when he rallied in the scores of 99-90 and a third of 98-91 – but
flyweight boss Ken up his fighter’s story of a broken nose. eighth, briefly stemming the tidal wave projected next rival, rapidly improving
Shiro blasted out Jacobs, who boxed competently, doesn’t of power punches that had come his European welterweight boss David
Randy Petalcorin merit any criticism either. Who can knock a way from the start. It only encouraged Avenesyan, might prove a step too far
in four. fighter for accepting millions of dollars for Martinez to find a new gear in the ninth. at this stage.

34 O BOXING NEWS O JANUARY 9, 2020 w w w . b o x i n g n e w s o n l i n e . n e t