THIS IS A BOXING POST
Mexican Ginger destroys Lopez
LAS VEGAS -- Josesito Lopez threw every punch he could muster at Saul Alvarez, and Canelo barely flinched. A few moments later, Lopez was seated on the canvas with a sore midsection and a growing sense of doom.
The 12-to-1 underdog just wasn't going to conjure up his second upset of the year. Lopez's Rocky story would have no sequel.
Alvarez stopped Lopez late in the fifth round Saturday night, defending his WBC 154-pound title with a relentless display of power from a 22-year-old Mexican star who's ready to fight boxing's biggest names after dominating one of its most unlikely contenders.
Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KOs) methodically erased Lopez's improbable title hopes by knocking down Lopez in the second, third and fourth rounds. Another series of relentless combinations finally forced referee Joe Cortez to step in with 5 seconds left in the fifth, sending Alvarez to his 37th consecutive victory.
"Josesito has a big heart and is very brave, but I came in and did what I had to do and finished business," Alvarez said. "I'm not usually looking for the knockout, but tonight it was perfect."
Lopez (30-5) earned this unlikely title shot by knocking off Victor Ortiz in June, but the Riverside, Calif., native realized he was simply outclassed by a dynamic young champion.
"He proved that he's the better fighter," Lopez said. "I felt good going in, but his size is pretty good. There was a big difference. He's a smart fighter. I was hoping to land some punches, but he was smarter, stronger and patient. I was looking for a good punch to change the momentum."
Lopez got into the MGM Grand Garden by breaking Ortiz's jaw and eventually accepting the golden ticket to fight Canelo when Ortiz, Paul Williams and James Kirkland all couldn't or wouldn't take on the rising Mexican star.
His life story -- rising from boxing anonymity and keeping his family together while his father serves a major stretch in prison -- is an inspiration, but Lopez realized pretty quickly he wasn't about to add another unbelievable chapter.
Alvarez wouldn't allow it. He has his own dreams of superstardom, and he's well on the way.
"I think I'm improving with each fight," Alvarez said. "I had a big responsibility tonight to all my fans watching around the world, and I think I did my job. I want the big fights now. (Miguel) Cotto, (Floyd) Mayweather, I'll fight them all."
Although Lopez had never fought at 154 pounds and was a junior welterweight last year, Alvarez insisted he wouldn't overlook any opponent. Lopez spent most of his career fighting in hotel ballrooms and casinos in his native Southern California before stepping in against Ortiz under Staples Center's bright lights when Andre Berto failed a doping test.
Lopez is slightly taller, but Alvarez's rock-solid build presented a sharp contrast with Lopez's more wiry frame -- and Canelo made sure Lopez felt his power throughout the fight.
Alvarez won every round on every judge's scorecard before the fight was stopped. The Associated Press also had Canelo winning 40-33.
Alvarez landed 52 percent of his 269 total punches, including 64 percent of his 162 power shots. Lopez actually threw more punches, but landed just 32 percent of his 279.
Alvarez dropped Lopez with left hooks to the body in the second and third rounds while also blankly absorbing everything Lopez could throw at him. Alvarez knocked down Lopez with another combination with 15 seconds left in the fourth.
Cortez, a veteran official refereeing his final fight before retirement, stepped in when Lopez offered little resistance to a long barrage of shots. Alvarez paraded around the ring briefly on his cornermen's shoulders while the pro-Mexican crowd roared one last time.
Even with a big crowd attending Sergio Martinez's middleweight fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. a few blocks down Tropicana Avenue at the Thomas and Mack Center, a sellout crowd of 14,275 packed into the MGM Grand Garden to watch Alvarez, whose redheaded good looks and furious punching power have put him in competition with Chavez and Juan Manuel Marquez for the top spot among Mexico's most beloved fighters.
Alvarez was guaranteed a $2 million purse to just $212,500 for Lopez, although he's likely to make more. Canelo even got the $100,000 bonus from promoter Golden Boy for the Knockout of the Night on a show dubbed "Knockout Kings," beating out Marcos Maidana's sensational eighth-round stoppage of Jesus Soto Karass on a strong undercard.
Lopez unloaded a series of shots early in the second round that backed up Alvarez, but didn't appear to hurt him in the slightest. Alvarez replied with his typically heavy hands, putting Lopez on his back heel and eventually flooring him late in the round with a right to the face and a devastating left hook to the ribs.
Lopez went down again in the third, stumbling backward after a straight blow to the stomach. A combination basically forced Lopez to the ground in the fourth -- and though he didn't appear beaten, he also had little to offer.
"He's a way better fighter than Victor," Lopez said of Alvarez. "He's got a lot of skill, and he's very smart."
Sergio Martinez proved in his highly anticipated fight what he had been saying all along: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. did not deserve to be middleweight champion.
Martinez defeated Chavez by unanimous decision on Saturday night to regain the WBC middleweight title. Two judges scored the match 118-109 in favor of Martinez, while the last one was only a little closer at 117-110.
Before the two competed for the title, Martinez had some words for his opponent that must have hit close to home. He told reporters (via Yahoo! Sports):
It is very simple. I cannot accept the fact he is world champion. The only reason he is world champion is because he is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the legend, and his mouth is so big - even bigger than his own brain - and he's talking too much.
Martinez had his title stripped by the WBC when he changed weight classes, and the veteran boxer has not accepted that fate. Now he will not have to, as he defeated his opponent fair and square.
The USA Today reports, however, that the bout winner says he will accept a rematch with Chavez. This would be a waste of time for boxing fans.
Despite coming into the match with an undefeated record, Chavez was largely untested in his first 47 professional matches. He had shown flashes of brilliance, but did not prove he was at the level of one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world.
This was proven to be true when Martinez dominated the champ for the first 10 rounds of the match. It was not until the last two rounds that Chavez finally came alive, likely after he realized it would take a knockout to win the fight.
Even with the final flurry, the match was not close enough to believe he would redeem himself with a second chance. In reality, that is what a rematch is for, not just for selling more tickets.
Martinez proved in the bout that he is not only more technically sound than the youngster, but he can still move well at 37 years old. Despite his advanced age, he is unlikely to be dropping out of the top spot any time soon.
Chavez still has a great amount of potential. The son of a legend has great strength and speed, but needs more discipline in the ring to avoid being exposed to big punches. With a few more years of seasoning, he can rise to the level of the top boxers in the world.
Unfortunately, that time is not now, and it will not be within the time frame of a potential rematch. Martinez won easily, and his next match should be against someone who can give him a better challenge.
Although boxing promoters will usually choose big names over a quality matchup, this is one that should be avoided.
source source
Also he is a Beast!! Canelo!! Y Viva Mexico! lol
He's already on his way to being an even bigger star than he already is. Also, is he actually looking bigger these days? I saw him in a Showtime interview and he looked huge.
Sergio Martinez still has my heart tho. My fave all time while Canelo a very close second.
OMG GIRL, Sergio left Chavez looking like a monster!! Good lord, I knew it was bad but not that bad. sheesh!
Also he's got a rocking bod, saw the same piece on ST and the boy is built!
Edited at 2012-09-16 10:11 pm (UTC)
Khan had so much potential. I don't know what went wrong with him. I'm not sure if it's Roach's fault or Khan's.
I love this man so much in how he respects women and focuses so much on protecting abused women globally. He's fabulous.
source
Also Maravilla broke his left wrist in the fourth round and kept fighting, then he broke his knee ligament and kept fighting. When the fight was over he has some bruises but he looked like nothing happened, while Chavez looked like he couldn´t hold on his own.
I was going to say the same thing. It's amazing when you see the Post interviews how different they looked. Chavez clearly had been disfigured by the fight.
Edited at 2012-09-17 01:22 am (UTC)
I have never been with any athlete that I can remember but I would love to have a shot with a boxer. lol.
If you have a moment you should look for the DL links for the fight. It's really good.
I so want to watch it, I'll look for a link rn (if you happen to have one, link me!)
I found some links on there. Let me know if those work. I'm so jelly about your conquests sis!! :D
Been with a boxer that was on the DL which was mega hot until he hit the roids....
Oh no, not roids ew. Couldn't get it up, right? I understand feeling pressure, but jfc these guys have to know by now the side effects of those things idgi
But as for those rugby guys, big and beefy and total gents until they close the bedroom door lol!!!
Yesss, I love that about them. It's like they are a bit self conscious of how big and intimidating they are so they try to make up for it with manners... until the clothes are off lol
canelo is true king..needs better fighters tho.
So true that he doesnt deserve a rematch, he's rly only getting this opportunity cuz of his dad's legacy, the kid sucks and needs to go do something else.
The Ginger King continues to slay <3 I hope he fights Mayweather next and surprises everyone ;D
Mostly cons. I just get laughed at daily.