By Rafael Soto
Monterrey - Roberto Garcia held nothing back in securing a ten round unanimous decision over a passive Omar Chavez, to win a regional World Boxing Council middleweight title in the stellar fight from the Gym Nuevo Leon Independent in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.
The contest, which was televised by Azteca 7, was surprising to everyone at ringside because Chavez was not very active and seemed to be mostly on the receiving end of hard shots.
After that knockout victory over Canelo's brother Ramon "Innocent" Alvarez in April, Omar had created huge expectations, but it was very different tonight. The judges' scores were: Judge Ernesto Saldivar gave 97-92, while Rodolfo Ramirez and Javier Camacho scored 96-93, all in favor of Roberto.
The nearly three thousand fans who were present at the Nuevo León Gymnasium ended up booing the Culiacan native, who had encouraged them to witness a power struggle that ended up leaning toward Garcia, a boxer who threw a lot of body punches in the first three rounds.
Chavez was unable to counter Roberto's strength and forcefulness throughout the match, and only sporadically released some punches. It was practically a replica performance of what took place back in May in Las Vegas, when Omar's older brother Julio César Chavez Jr. was dominated by Canelo.
When Chávez left the ring, he had the face of punishment and disgust, while Garcia was having a night of celebration.
Garcia landed hard body shots in the first three rounds, but some of them strayed low and that cost him one point reduction in the second. Omar repeatedly complained that his opponent punished him below the belt.
From the fourth round onwards the match was the same, with Roberto Garcia coming forward, punishing Chavez at the middle distance and on the ropes. Garcia was dealing with an unresponsive Chavez, who seemed to be tired and without any conditioning.
It wasn't until the last round in which Omar decided to throw some punches that landed on Garcia, but by that time the fight was already long lost.