It wasn’t supposed to turn out this way, Danny Jacobs and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. were supposed to give the Phoenix fight fans a back and forth toe to toe 12 round battle, ah but wait, Chavez Jr. was involved so as the saying goes, the more things change the more they stay the same. So in saying that, maybe Chavez Jr. QUITTING in his corner after the 5th round causing a melee WAS the way things were supposed to turn out.
At the start of the 1st round, I remember looking at Chavez Jr. with his Pete Davidson look and all and thinking to myself that this walking log had to be at BARE MINIMUM 190 something pounds, I mean his back was massive. I then saw Chavez Jr. land his 1st flush jab on Jacobs and I saw how that jab alone moved Jacobs and the look on Jacobs face after receiving the jab told me that Jacobs too knew that this is starting to feel more like getting his feet wet in a cruiserweight affair than a 168 pounds debut.
In the middle of the 5th round in what to me up to that point was a very close 3-2 fight either way, as I sat in my seat on media row, I saw the expression on Chavez Jr.’s now bloody face begin to change from ”I’m MUCH bigger than him, no way that he can take any more of my punches” to ”What is going on, what in the Santa Maria type of shot did he just hit me with, FU** THIS, I didn’t sign up for this!”
And then it happened, a now discouraged Chavez Jr. walked to this corner and decided that he had enough and wanted no more of what was this that was now becoming, what do the young kids say now ah days, oh yeah ”smoke” Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. wanted no more of what the resilient Jacobs was dishing out and quit in his corner as beer bottles and soda cups were thrown into the ring from livid fight fans.
There was so much beer on the floor that at one time I slipped and fell face first, and well 4 hours later I woke up hungover. I kid, I kid, sorry bad joke, alright back to the action.
Jacobs and his team leaving the ring to cheers as the crowd bombed Chavez Jr. and team with bottles was quite a sight. And honestly, Danny Jacobs and his team deserve cheers and much more for their professionalism through all this. Jacobs came to fight and that he did, and in turn he now return back to the win column after losing a competitive decision to Canelo Alvarez in a 160-pound title unification bout in May.
Kudos also go to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing for selling out the arena. I mean really guys you should have seen it, the arena was packed like sardines with Chavez fans, it’s about to be 2020 and it’s mind blowing to me that Chavez Jr. is still being given chance after chance by boxing and his fanatics.
At the press conference Hearn went on to say that even though the aftermath was bad, it didn’t discourage him the slightest from wanting to come back to do another show here in Phoenix. Hearn mentioned that the love the fight fans showed as Chavez Jr. came out the tunnel was later replaced by anger by those same fans because these are very passionate fans.
So was I surprised that things ended so messy? No, not even a little bit, especially knowing that at the jump of this promotion that Chavez versus Jacobs was riddled with uncertainty. Chavez Jr. had to get a temporary restraining order from a Nevada court on Tuesday that forced the hand of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to lift his suspension for refusing a VADA random drug test late October that left the fight in quite the guessing game.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn was forced to move the fight from Las Vegas to Phoenix. The ordeal led to Hearn inking former two-time middleweight world title challenger Gabriel Rosado to fight on the undercard and to remain on standby to face Jacobs in case Chavez Jr. would not be permitted to fight.
So remember earlier when I said Chavez Jr.’s chance after chance, well even after Chavez Jr.’s suspension was removed, the fight was still in jeopardy on Thursday when Chavez was 172.7 pounds at the weigh-in, this friggin guy was 4.7 pounds over the 168-pound super middleweight limit. And Jacobs still went on to fight, but first was paid an extra million from Chavez Jr.’s purse.
And Chavez Jr. being true to his form went on to make a basket full of excuses following the fight, including accusing Jacobs of fouls, and even blamed referee Wes Melton for not calling out Jacobs for these made up fouls.
“I was getting close but got head-butted above the left eye,” Chavez said. “Then I had problems because of all the blood. I came over to the corner and couldn’t breathe. He elbowed me and head-butted me. Very tough fight. I felt I couldn’t go because I couldn’t breathe properly. The ref wasn’t calling anything.
“I apologize to the fans. I’d love to have a rematch. I got head-butted. He fought a dirty fight and [the referee] didn’t even take a point away. He would have been able to continue doing the dirty work.”
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. went on to add: “With all due respect to the fans of Phoenix, Arizona, I disagree with you. My son was making a competitive fight and he was winning,” Chavez Sr. wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, he was head-butted and elbowed. He has a broken nose and will undergo surgery now.”
Jacobs, who entered this 168 pound debut with new head trainer in Fareed Samad looked good and it will be interesting to see what is next for Danny Jacobs.
“I am comfortable with the victory. Obviously, they won’t let me enjoy it,” Jacobs said of the crowd. “I know they’re not mad at me. They’re mad at Chavez, but I did my part.”
Martinez halts Rosales to win the flyweight world title
Julio Cesar Martinez won a vacant flyweight title in a toe to toe clash with Cristofer Rosales, whom he knocked out in the ninth round in the co-feature bout.
Hooker proves to be too Mighty for Perez
Former junior welterweight world champ Maurice Hooker, who lost his belt by 6 round knockout to Jose Ramirez in their July 27 unification bout, returned looking mean under Brian McIntyre knock out Uriel Perez in the first round.
“I know when I hit him with the body shot I hurt him,” Hooker said. “When he backed up on the ropes I attacked him. I have the best jab at 140. No one can beat me when I’m conditioned. I just want my belt back. Where I’m from I can’t go out like that. I want my belt back.”
“I feel good,” he said. “I just want my belt back. I’ll do whatever I can to get my belt back. [Unified titleholder] Josh Taylor, whoever it is, I want my belt back at 140. The weight didn’t matter to me. I got a new team, we trained hard, and I’m ready. Tonight I couldn’t show you too much, but next fight I will. I got in my rhythm and hit my shots.”
In other fights: Raymond Ford steamrolled Francisco Muro to win by 1st round TKO.
Rashat Mati demolished Rakim Johnson.
Liam Smith decisioned Roberto Garcia.
Josh Kelly decisioned Winston Campos.
Daniyar Yeleussinov defeats Alan Sanchez.
Gabriel Rosado defeats Huberto Gutierrez Ochoa.