By Sam Gregory: At the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas undefeated featherweight champ 29 year old Chris John 42-0-2, (22 KO’s) made his American debut against 28 year old Houston, Texan Rocky Juarez 28-4-1 (20 KO’s) in a 12 round championship fight for Chris John’s WBA featherweight belt.
The opening round started with both men feeling each other out with a few jabs and some clinches, John landed the more significant punches in both the first and second rounds. It was early in the fight that John showed better boxing moves and ring generalship.
Going into the middle rounds it was clear Chris John had a strong chin as he weathered some solid punches from Juarez.
In round five John backed his challenger against the ropes and landed a right hand that opened a cut above Juarez’ right eye. Up until this point in the fight Chris John was averaging 50 jabs a round.
Going into round six it was clear John was the busier more elusive fighter and outworking Juarez. John continued to step up the pace and by the eighth round seemed to be leading in the fight.
In the championship rounds it looked like it was Chris John who was still landing the cleaner more effective punches. Juarez did come on pretty hard through many of these rounds that could have been scored either way. Going into the 12th round both fighters corner told their man they needed to win this round to win the fight and as it turned out that’s exactly how it was.
At the end of 12 rounds all three judges’ cards were the same, 114-114 a draw.
Chris John retained his featherweight title.
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