CHAVEZ WINS FINAL BOUT.
By Francisco Villasenor. All Photo: German Villasenor.
May 28, 2005 Los Angeles California- 17,692 (seemed and looked to be as a packed-house) raving, loud fans made their way to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. to see mexico's greatest, and one of the best fighters in BOXING of all time, ''The Lion of Culiacan'', ''J.C. Superstar'', ''The Sultan of Culiacan''- the man better known as Julio Cesar Chavez.
Chavez, 42 looking as fit as he has in some time, coming in at 143 LBS. just 3 LBS. shy of his superlightweight championship last reign weight was of course, slower, but still had more than enough gas left in the tank to track down a mobile Ivan ''Mighty'' Robinson, 34 (better known for defeating current WBC 140LB. titlist Arturo Gatti, in back -to back fight of the year bouts.)
Chavez resorted to using his left hand more than usual, as he reportedly hurt his right during the bout, with the tenth round being a left hook fest for Chavez who had Robinson in trouble several times in the bout, sending his mouthpiece out on several occasions, and putting him down in the fourth with a short combination on the inside.
Robinson, who looked a bit soft in the middle, was certainly up for the fight, as he was able to land good combinations of his own, move laterally, and trade in spots during the bout. Robinson, 32-10-2, 12 kos did not, however had the firepower to hurt Chavez and who gained a certain amount of respect from the predominantly mexican fight crowd from the start, as he bowed in respect by bowing to the former six time world champion in three different weight classes.
Chavez controlled the pace of the bout, showing flashes of what made him great in the past, and showing the tear and wear of all those wars in others.
Still, the greatest fighter ever produced from Mexico gave the fans what they wanted- Celebrate as they had done in countless times in the past, as Chavez won a lopsided 100-88 and 99-90 x 2 unanimous decision.
"Someone told me this was going to be an easy fight but as you saw it wasn't," Chavez said after the decision was announced. I hurt my right hand some time in the first six rounds. I'm sorry I couldn't give my fans a better fight."
"Robinson is a real good fighter," "Thanks to Bob Arum for putting on my last fight; this really is my last fight." - said Chavez after the bout .
The last? Certaily in Los Angeles, but there might be one more, in Phoenix or some Texas city, depending on how Chavez feels about it in the upcoming days.
Chavez defeats Hernandez in an all out brawl.
The former WBC Superfeatherweight champion, Mexico's Jesus ''El Matador'' Chavez now, 41-3, 28 kos outslugged the former IBF superfeatherweight champion, The SalvadorAmerican Carlos'' Famoso'' Hernandez (41-5-1, 24 kos to win a twelve round split decision in a WBC Eliminator.
In what was an instant rousing classic from the start, both men engaged in close quarters warfare, often mirroring each other as they bout landed body shots, uppercuts with the difference being Chavez slightly better lateral movement and a whiping jab, the same one which kept him going the distance in his failed defense of the WBC belt as a one armed fighter in his losing bout vs Erik Morales last year.
Hernandez suffered a cut alongside his left eye, while Chavez was staggered a couple of times during the bout on route to 117-111 !? and 115-113 (twice) split decision.
Chavez is now in line to challenge Marco Antonio Barrera for the title.
Marquez retains Bantamweight world title fending off a determined ''Chapo'' Vargas.
The IBF Bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez (34-3, 30 kos) had to dig deep and work extra hard to keep his title by ot working Tijuana's own Ricardo ''Chapo'' Vargas, (37-11-3, 12 kos) who showed an iron chin, all the while checking Marquez's chin in the fourth frame sending him bending against the ropes, Marquez fought back in the following rounds and took control by slowly busting up and cutting Vargas face as the heavy handed champion began using his jab more frequently, setting up his power shots.
Marquez had ''Chapo'' hurt bad and seemingly ready to go in the final round when Vargas tasted the canvas, but managed to make it to his feet and go the distance in a prideful effort, which won him the respect of all in attendance.
The Superlightweight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr remained undefeated by blowing away Adam Wynant at 0:42 seconds of the first round.
In
the first bout of the SHOWTIME PPV televised portion of the card, the
southpaw Middleweight Jesus ''Martillo'' Gonzales defeated
Dumont Welliver with scores of 80-72 on all three cards.
Super Flyweight Brian Viloria stopped Ruben Contreras*
at 0:55 seconds of the six round of a scheduled eight rounder.
*
Contreras was taken to the hospital and reportadly underwent surgery
after he collapsed in the ring following the stoppage of the contest.
The heavyweight Albert Sosnowski defeated the former WBA Cruiserweight
champion Orlin Norris via 59-55, 58-56 and 57-57 at the end of
six rounds of action.
Superwelterweight Vanes Martirosyan halted Giovanni Rubio at 2:55 of the first round.
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