With the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (40-0-1, 30KO) John Duddy (29-1, 18KO), main event in San Antonio, TX at the Alamodome, I will be making my first prediction in an on-going prediction scoreboard. Whenever I make a prediction I will post the record and win percentage. I will only be making predictions on big fights that are close match-ups and not obvious mis-matches and blow-outs.
While Chavez Jr. has been fed hand picked light opposition, some of which he had problems with, I believe the assistance of new trainer Freddie Roach, even if for only four weeks, will be the difference maker in a very close hard to call fight.
Duddy has definitely faced the tougher competition, is more experienced, comes to bang, and the longer the fight goes, the more often he’ll have chances to land a big right. That being said, Chavez Jr. is more sound technically, throws straighter punches, and Freddie will have him on the outside making sure he keeps his hands up as the fight gets into the later rounds.
Julio’s problem has been his defense but as I said earlier, I believe the four weeks with Freddie will make the difference. While Freddie will need much more then four weeks to get Chavez’s defense up to par for top level competition, I believe four weeks is enough for Roach to employ a defensive game plan to be victorious against the Irishman.
Expect to see Chavez Jr. on the outside using lateral movement to the right and boxing while staying away from big exchanges to win a close decision.
Most critics have wrote off Chavez as a mediocre fighter who will only be successful at the level of competition he has been fighting the last few years. I tend to disagree, while he might not have the power of his father or the body work of the great legend, he has the fundamentals to box sharply and is a smart gentleman who has the ability to learn and apply.
With Freddie Roach behind the remote, I believe Chavez Jr. has the ability to tune into the stations Roach switches to and possibly become a contender.