Tue, Jul 08, 2008

Sports

Boxing

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. stops Sanchez in 6th round

By Tim Korte
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 12.02.2007
ALBUQUERQUE — Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. looked every bit as good as his old man, stopping Ray Sanchez in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight fight Saturday night.
Chavez (34-0-1, 27 KOs), the son of the heralded Mexican champion, notched the biggest win of his young career, driving Sanchez (20-2) into the ropes midway through the sixth and launching a flurry of shots to the head.
Sanchez dropped to his knees, then couldn't answer after the count at 1:33 of the round, sending Mexican fans into a frenzy in Sanchez's hometown arena.
The left-handed Sanchez was touted as the hardest puncher Chavez has faced. But with his father watching from a ringside seat, Chavez held his own and answered each shot.
It was a real punchout from the first bell, an entertaining show for 6,077 fans at Tingley Coliseum and an international pay-per-view audience.
The fighters weren't afraid to go toe-to-toe from the start, trading jabs and each looking to set up a power punch. Each landed plenty of shots, but Chavez withstood the barrage and delivered his own.
When Chavez launched his final attack it was clear Sanchez was running low then had nothing left.
The fight was billed as the toughest test for either boxer and a breakout opportunity that promised to lead to bigger bouts for the winner.
It was the main event, with the crowd was behind Sanchez for the biggest fight in New Mexico since the heyday of Albuquerque boxers Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero some 10 years ago.
The 21-year-old Chavez entered the ring accompanied by his father, and each member of the Mexicans' entourage wore a red bandanna with "J.C. Chavez Jr." printed in white letters.
Sanchez was welcomed moments later by loud Albuquerque fans, but Chavez had his share of supporters, too. In fact, boisterous chants of "Sanchez! Sanchez!" eventually blended with "Chavez! Chavez!"
Sanchez, a 24-year-old left-hander from Albuquerque built his reputation as an amateur. He narrowly missed a trip to the Sydney Olympics at 17, turned pro at 18, then was slowed by several stop-and-go periods.