CHAVEZ JR PROMISES WAR AGAINST ANDY LEE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 14 Jun 2012
World Boxing Council middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has promised to wage war and come out victor when he defends his title on the University of Texas El Paso college campus against challenger Andy Lee on Sunday, Manila Time.
The fight will be telecast by ABS-CBN on Studio 23 at 1:30 pm.
The fight was originally slated to be held in Mexico but the increased violence in Juarez forced Top Rank Promotions to move the venue to El Paso midst assurances of proper safety precautions being in place.
Boxing Scene managing editor Jake Donovan reported that the City of El Paso has strongly rallied around the event, with 20,000 tickets already sold and the Visitor?s Bureau continuing to promote the event to its community. All told, the turn of events proved to be a huge sigh of relief for both fighters. All they had to do? was train for the fight.
The undefeated Chavez who has a record of 45-0-1 with 31 knockouts will be making the third defense of the title he won with a majority twelve round decision over Sebastian Zbik on June 4, 2011 and successfully defended against Peter Manfredo Jr with an impressive 5th round TKO on November 19, 2011 and a twelve round unanimous decision over tough Marco Antonio Rubio last February 4.
In between Chavez Jr won the vacant WBC silver title with a dominating performance against Irishman John Duddy on June 26, 2010.
Chavez told a pre-fight press conference ?I feel at home here in El Paso. All of the people here have been very nice to me.?
The undefeated ?Son of the Legend? Julio Cesar Chavez said ?The thing I?m here to do is to pay back the people of El Paso for their love, by fighting hard and leaving here with my title.?
Lee who like Duddy is also from Ireland said ?I?m glad the fight is here after all of the controversy.?
Lee who has a record of 28-1 with 20 knockouts said ?This will be a successful event. We?ve left no stone unturned. We?ve worked very hard and I?m in tremendous shape. HBO has given me a tremendous opportunity and I plan to take full advantage of it. I?m here and I?m ready to win.?
Chavez training was disrupted somewhat when Manny Pacquiao's strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza got Pacquiao's permission to leave training cam in order to he;p Chavez Jr make sure he is at the proper weight.
However, Ariza claims Top Rank promoter Bob Arum barred him from entering the Top Rank gym and flying to El Paso with Chavez and has hired a new strength and conditioning coach.
How much this will affect Chavez Jr who was able to make weight and put on a fine showing when he was handled by Ariza remains to be seen.
Photo: WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr speaks to the media during the final press conference for his upcoming title bout against middleweight contender Andy Lee of Ireland this Saturday, June 16 at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso,Texas. Photo Credit: Chris Farina - Top Rank.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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