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Julio Cesar Chavez JR: The End of the Road – Boxing News

By Geno McGahee

This Saturday night, Julio Cesar Chavez, JR., 44-0-1, 31 KO’s, steps into the ring against a legitimate top contender in the middleweight division, Marco Antonio Rubio, 53-5-1, 46 KO’s. Chavez, JR., is the owner of the WBC Middleweight Title, a championship that was as much given as it was won. There hasn’t been a fighter that has won more “padded record” awards from boxing publications as the “Son of the Legend” has, and he has been carefully guided and maneuvered into this position. The opponent on Saturday is the moment of truth for Chavez, JR.

Rubio is 31 years old and has won ten straight, nine by knockout. In April of 2011, he was pitted against the undefeated rising power-puncher from Canada, David Lemieux, and this fight is a key fight to analyze when thinking about the Chavez, JR., bout. Lemieux won the first six rounds, or just about. He was using speed and movement to build up points, but he couldn’t keep Rubio off and despite losing via stoppage in 3 of his 5 losses, his chin is pretty sturdy. When you look at those that were able to put him down for good, you will see that they were huge middleweight punchers. Chavez, JR., is nothing of the sort…so the plan has to be to outwork Rubio and run for the scorecards.

The common opponent is Matt Vanda. In 2008, Chavez, JR., faced him twice. The first fight ended with a gift decision for the Mexican fighter. One judge, and the president of the Julio Cesar Chavez, JR., fan club, Francisco Mouret, had it 100-90 for Chavez. I would not be surprised if he filled out the scorecard prior to the fight. So they rematched and in another competitive fight, Julio was able to win rather clearly by decision.

Rubio knocked out Vanda in 5 rounds, becoming one of only two men to accomplish the feat. Vanda is known for being a tough customer that ducks nobody, usually fighting competitively and going the distance, but Rubio made short work of him. He is a big puncher and will try to knock Chavez out on Saturday and there is a reason why he probably will.

Chavez, JR., can move and can use his high punch output to build up points, but his defense is more than questionable and is the key to a Rubio victory. In his title winning majority decision win over Sebastian Zbik, he took a lot of head shots. He does not react well to the incoming, but now he’s facing a guy with power in both hands and it will be very interesting to see what happens when he is bouncing shots off of the champion’s head.

The favorite may be JCC JR to win this fight, but I am not sold that he can keep Rubio off for 12 rounds. This is Rubio’s fight if he pushes and I expect him to do so, winning via 8th round stoppage.

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