By Chris Robinson
On Saturday night in El Paso, Texas, WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. successfully defended his title with a highly-entertaining stoppage victory over brave Irishman Andy Lee. Chavez’s debilitating body attack proved to be too much for Lee, who saw the fight waved off by referee Laurence Cole in the seventh round as he was taking punishment along the ropes.
The question now becomes whether or not Chavez will push forward with a proposed September 15th date with Sergio Martinez, the man regarded as boxing’s best at 160 pounds.
Martinez’s manager Sampson Lewkowicz was able to take in Junior’s victory and seemed to see a different fighter than he had seen before.
“For the first time, I’m a believer,” Lewkowicz told me shortly after Chavez’s triumph. “I believe it would be a great fight that I would not miss if I’m a fan.”
The Uruguayan-born advisor, matchmaker, and promoter went on to add that he has ‘100%’ confidence that the fight will be made for the city of Las Vegas and that he has requested a 20 x 20 ring.
In the past, Lewkowicz has expressed his displeasure towards Bob Arum, who co-promotes Chavez, but now he is singing a slightly different tune when it comes to the veteran promoter.
“That mastermind of boxing at this moment is Bob Arum,” said Lewkowicz. “He’s too clever to miss this opportunity. The way I feel, after tonight, I feel this will be bigger that Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley. I believe it will sell more.”
On that same September date, Golden Boy Promotions has reserved the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to stage a Saul Alvarez-Victor Ortiz melee. It would be a shame to see such significant fights countering one another and Lewkowicz feels the Golden Boy will eventually move away from September 15th.
“Richard Schaefer is a very smart businessman,” said Lewkowicz of the Golden Boy CEO. “He will not make that mistake. Most likely he will move the date.”
READER’s NOTE: For an inside look at Pacquiao-Bradley fight week in videos, including the post-fight press conference, grand arrivals, and exclusives with Bob Arum, Juan Manuel Marquez, Alex Ariza, Joel Diaz, Adrien Broner, Freddie Roach, Juan Manuel Lopez, Ana Julaton, Sampson Lewkowicz, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Miguel Diaz, and several other please visit Chris Robinson’s recently-launched Youtube page at CRHarmony YouTube Page
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com, www.Twitter.com/CRHarmony, and www.Youtube.com/CRHarmony
