Strengths for Each Man
As mentioned in “Tale of the Tape,” Andrzej Fonfara has a healthy height and reach advantage over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., which will be his best defense against Chavez’s aggression. Chavez spoke during his media workout about Fonfara’s height advantage.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]“I am fighting [Andrzej] Fonfara now because I like big opponents. I like the challenge of fighting good, hungry fighters. Just because Fonfara doesn’t have the name recognition of other fighters, it doesn’t make him an easy fighter. He’s tough.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]
Chavez may say he likes fighting bigger fighters, but it is one thing to say it, and another to prove it inside the ring. In Fonfara’s fight against Stevenson, he got better and stronger as the fight progressed. If Chavez is not in top shape, and his legs don’t have the strength to continuously pressure Fonfara late in the fight, then it will be Fonfara who will be able to use his length advantage to win the late rounds.
Fonfara also has been much more active than Chavez, fighting at Light Heavyweight seven times in the past three years. Including his fight against Adonis Stevenson. As well as wins over journeyman Glen Johnson in 2012, and over contenders Tommy Karpency, Gabriel Campillo, and Samuel Miller, all three of which Fonfara defeated by knockout.
Photo by Eric Gay
Chavez’s two biggest strengths in this fight are going to be his iron chin and his relentless pressure attack, specifically to the body.
Keeping true to his Mexican fight style, Chavez will be swallowing punches from Fonfara while working his way inside. Good thing for Chavez he has one of the best beards in the business, and it’s easy to assume that Fonfara will not have enough strength in his punches to keep him at bay.
Chavez’s trainer Joe Goossen spoke about training camp and how Chavez is looking going into the fight.
[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]“Lake Tahoe was tremendous for training camp. You are isolated and it’s not an easy thing. When you aren’t training you are sitting in a hotel room. You are deprived the comforts of home, but it really gives you that concentration and dedication factor and I think that will interpret into some positive results.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]
A tireless body attack is the perfect way to chop down a larger fighter like Fonfara. If Chavez can take Fonfara’s legs from him in the middle rounds, he’ll be able to keep him on the ropes and in the corners, where Chavez will be able to flurry punches downstairs. This will eventually leave Fonfara guessing Chavez’s punches, opening him up to being tagged to the head.
