Andy Lee In Deep With Chavez Jr.

By Boxing News - 06/11/2012 - Comments

Image: Andy Lee In Deep With Chavez Jr.By Mark Uliano: This Saturday night, as the boxing masses are still trying to get over the controversial and questioned decision from the Manny Pacquiao-Tim Bradley fight, the ‘Son of the Legend’ Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will be putting his WBC Middleweight title on the line against Ireland’s Andy Lee in El Paso, Texas on HBO.

Lee (28-1, 20KO) seems to be extremely confident coming into this fight against the younger Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31KO). The Texas Commission has been in the spotlight in recent big stage fights due to the inconsistent scoring the judges have shown in the past two years. With an expected attendance of 40,000 and a pro-Chavez crowd, we as boxing fans hope that the judges are able to concentrate on the fight at hand and score a fair/unbiased fight. Also fighting on the card Saturday night in a stay busy mismatch fight is Jr. Middleweight contender Vanes ‘The Nightmare’ Martirosyan (32-0, 20KO) against Ryan Davis (24-9-3, 9KO). Martirosyan, still looking for that big money fight, is looking to make short work of the Illinois native.

Chavez, giving up two inches in height against the 6’2 Lee, will most likely come into the fight fifteen plus pounds over the Middleweight limit come fight night. Lee, along with Hall of Fame trainer Emmanuel Steward, believes that his height, his superior boxing and also his ability to fight on the inside will help him come out of this bout victorious. With knockout power in both hands Lee is a threat to Chavez, who normally likes to smother his opponents. A hard left by Lee could end the night early for the 26-year old Mexican. Lee’s only loss came to Brian Vera in 2008 by TKO, but late last year he was able to avenge his loss by way of a unanimous decision at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Looking at Lee’s resume, there isn’t much to write home about. The biggest win of his career came against Craig McEwan last year and many boxing analysts, including this writer, believed he was on his way to his second defeat before stopping McEwan in the tenth round. Although dangerous, I think Lee may be underestimating his opponent and will be in for a rude awakening Saturday night in front of the crowd at the packed Sun Bowl.

Chavez Jr., coming off a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision victory over seasoned fighter Marco Antonio Rubio this pas February, is looking to add another up and coming contenders name to his win column. Chavez Jr., with victories over John Duddy, Sebastian Zbik and the aforementioned Marco Antonio Rubio, will most likely box Lee in the opening rounds with lots of movement, then change to his bully style of crowding his opponent and letting go body shots looking for a late round stoppage. With Freddie Roach in the corner, you can be sure a proper game plan has been established; whether or not Chavez follows it will be a different story. I think if Chavez smothers and works the body on the taller Lee, he will break down the Irishman and emerge victorious on Saturday night.

With a supposed September fight signed with former WBC Middleweight champion and current WBC Diamond Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28KO), the young Mexican needs to not only look impressive against the KRONK fighter, but come out of this fight without injury, serious or not. Fight fans have been waiting for the Chavez Jr.-Martinez fight for a while now and if Chavez Jr. can get by Lee easily on Saturday night, the fight fans, along with Sergio Martinez, may get their wish. With all the controversy that has been going on in boxing, a September fight between these two fighters may be a step in the right direction in bringing boxing back into the spotlight.



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