By Jake Donovan
Plans for an all-offspring showdown between Omar Chavez and Jorge Paez Jr. are moving that much closer towards becoming a reality. A card designed to build interest towards such a showdown airs tonight live from Mexicali on Fox Deportes.
Both fighters did their part to preserve the matchup, which is tentatively slated for later this year.
Chavez wasted little time in taking apart Alberto Martinez, scoring a first round stoppage in their televised main event.
Aptly nicknamed “The Businessman”, Chavez – the youngest fighting son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. – was professional in his attack, working smartly behind a stiff jab and scoring with precision punching. Martinez was brave in his desire to make a fight of it, but it only revealed the fight to be the tune-up that it was, one that wouldn’t last very long.
Chavez unloaded on his overmatched countryman until forcing the stoppage, which came at 2:51 of the opening round.
Critics have long claimed that Chavez is the more promising talent when compared to his brother Julio Jr, and at least shows it in his technique and training regimen. Chavez showed up at a fit and ready 147 pounds, and looked fluid in his attack. His dedication – along with continued careful matchmaking – has lead to his racking up his fifth straight stoppage as he rolls to 27-0-1 (20KO).
Martinez has a four-fight win streak snapped as he falls to 15-2 (10KO).
Next up for the 21-year young Chavez is a long anticipated showdown with former amateur rival Paez Jr., who did his part to keep the fight alive with a 3rd round knockout of made to order Rodrigo Juarez.
Paez Jr dropped Juarez in the opening round and toyed with the Mexican journeyman for the remainder of the bout, which wasn’t a heck of a lot longer.
A left hook had Juarez on wobbly legs early in the third, and Paez Jr. had the wherewithal to finish off his foe rather than stand back and admire his work. As Juarez staggered into a corner, Paez Jr. unloaded with left hooks and right hands until forcing the stoppage.
The official time was 1:02 of the third round.
Paez Jr, who has had a rough go of it as a pro considering his early promise, improves to 29-4-1 (18KO). Juarez drops his sixth straight in falling to 15-14-1 (11KO). Two of the six losses among that streak have come against Chavez – a controversial split decision last May, followed by a fourth round stoppage loss less than four months later.
Chavez and Paez Jr once squared off in an unsanctioned exhibition match when they were kids. The bout ended in a draw and not much was thought of it until both turned pro a few years ago. Both fighters have always welcomed the fight, but Paez Jr has endured his stumbles along the way.
With Top Rank and Zanfer more serious than ever before about matching up the next generation fighters, the road is clear for a head-on collision in an already loaded fall schedule.
OTHER TELEVISED ACTION
Ruben Tamayo toughed out a competitive though unpopular split decision win over previously unbeaten Jose Cayetano in their televised swing bout.
Cayetano overcame a cut and non-stop aggression from the battle-tested Tamayo, but only managed to sway the opinion of one judge, who favored his boxing skills in the form of a 78-75 tally. The card was overruled by matching scores of 77-75 for Tamayo, who picks up the biggest win of his career has he improves to 18-2-2 (13KO).
The loss is the first in the young career of the Tijuana-based Cayetano, who falls to 10-1 (4KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.