By Manuel Perez: Following Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s 10-round unanimous decision tonight over Luciano Cuello at the Plaza Monumental Playa, in Tijuana, Mexico, Chavez Jr’s promoter Bob Arum made a shocking announcement when he said that he’s looking Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya and John Duddy as possible opponents for Chavez Jr. in 2009.
It sounded so absurd at first, I thought for a second that Arum was joking, but sure enough, he was dead serious about it. Arum really wants to match the 23-year-old Chavez Jr., the son of the great boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez, against the likes of Duddy, Pacquiao and De La Hoya.
I could see this fight happening if Chavez Jr. had actually fought some talented fighters and deserved a shot at one of them, but unfortunately he hasn’t. Chavez Jr. has been brought up very carefully, fighting handpicked opponents with not a whole of talent or power.
Although Chavez Jr. is ranked in the top 10 in the light middleweight division, he probably belongs in the 2nd tier rather than with the talented fighters in the top 10. However, his name is like gold because of his famous father and he’s been pushed up fast in the boxing rankings despite his low quality opposition.
It would be interesting to see if Pacquiao, Duddy or De La Hoya would even be interested in fighting someone as green and untested as Chavez Jr. Oh, I think Duddy would take the fight in a heartbeat, since he’s not had any huge bouts as of yet in his career.
I’m not so certain that’s who Arum really wants Chavez Jr. to fight, however. He must know that Chavez Jr. would lose badly to anyone of those fighters, as well probably every fighter in the top 15 in the light middleweight division, so he’s not going to want to have Chavez Jr’s unbeaten record marred by a fighter like Duddy.
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