Upset of the Midyear Consensus: Chavez Jr. vs. Fonfara
Badou Jack over Anthony Dirrell because well let face it, “And NEW,” has to be one of the most exciting phrases in boxing.
Jack won the majority decision in a very close fight over Dirrell in April’s PBC card shown on Spike TV.
The two talked lots of trash before the fight and nearly went to blows at the weigh ins. This was a decent upset for Badou Jack as he captured the WBC super middleweight title.
Pick: Badou Jack vs. Anthony Dirrell
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
In hindsight, it’s hard to imagine why so many of us picked the catch weight-loving Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. to win this fight. Chavez uses his considerable size advantage to wear down opponents, but in this case, Andrzej Fonfara was the much bigger guy.
Chavez hung in there, but he was eating every punch Fonfara threw and eventually wilted. After he was dropped hard in the ninth round, he quit on his stool in between rounds.
His post-fight interview was another Jim Gray classic, with Chavez proclaiming (we think, but who the hell knows) in concussed, broken English, that he thought he was winning the fight.
Pick: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andrzej Fonfara
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
In a way, I was not stunningly surprised given Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s appetite for being lazy and disinterested.
It was the way Andrzej Fonfara continued to press and ultimately, let’s be clear here, made Chavez quit.
He can make all the excuses he wants, but Chavez quit in his corner. I didn’t see that coming.
Pick: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andrzej Fonfara
Leann Perez, Staff Writer
The third and final matchup between Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios was supposed to be World War 3. No one can argue that these two didn’t deliver two amazing fights before, with each winning one a piece, leaving fight fans to wonder how the saga would end.
The third fight was hosted in Denver, the hometown of Alvarado, bringing HBO back to the Mile High City for the second time. Alvarado was arrested for gun possession and Rios trained his butt off to make weight and bring on the fight.
The victory for Rios wasn’t a big upset as any fight fan could see this coming from a mile away, but maybe the fact that Alvarado never showed up at all was the bigger disappointment.
Pick: Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado 3
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
New trainer, new perspective on life due to becoming a father, and still the results are the same. Chicanery.
Andrzej Fonfara outclassed the spectacle that is Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., who quit on the stool like a chump between the ninth and 10th round after getting put on his ass for the first time in his career.
His father’s shoes will always be too big for him, no matter what he does at this point.
Pick: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andrzej Fonfara
Yazket Espino, Staff Writer
As a late replacement on a one day notice, Thompson shocked Brandon Adams and TKO’d the favorite within two rounds to win the Boxcino Junior Middleweight final.
Pick: John Thompson vs. Brandon Adams
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
Undefeated Anthony Dirrell had more experience, fought better opposition and was the newly crowned WBC Super Middleweight Champion.
Badou Jack didn’t have any major world class experience to speak of and was just two fights removed from being stopped in the first round by Derek Edwards.
In what Dirrell hoped would be his first defense he was upset via 12 round majority decision in a closely contested match.
Pick: Badou Jack vs. Anthony Dirrell
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
I guess by now we all know to expect the unexpected from Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. But, evening knowing that Jr.’s love for the taco bar outweighs his love for boxing, I never thought Andrzej Fonfara would make him quit on his stool.
Pick: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Andrzej Fonfara
Other Nominees
