ALMOST coinciding with Mexico’s celebrated annual holiday Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for fifth of May, will be an all-Mexico mega fight between Saul Canelo Alvarez and son of legend Julio Cesar Chavez senior, Chavez Jr.
In the US, Cinco de Mayo has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. In Mexico, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades.
During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987; the WBA lightweight title from 1987 to 1989; the WBC lightweight title from 1988 to 1989; the WBC light welterweight title twice, from 1989 to 1996; and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991.
Additionally, he held the Ring magazine lightweight title from 1988 to 1989 and the lineal light welterweight title twice, from 1990 to 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing magazine respectively. Writers Association of America and The Ring
The Canelo-Chavez Jr mega showdown is slated for the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, US on May 6, 2017 and is likely to break records as it will pit arguably the best Mexican fighters of their generation.
Canelo, 50-34 KOs, 1-1 boasts a 68 per cent KO ratio while Chavez, 54-32 KOs, 2-1, has a 59 per cent knock out ratio. With their well documented hatred for each other the fight will be nothing but a bruising, toe-to-toe all-out war.
And the hype was under way this past week when Canelo and Chavez Jr faced off for the first time on a press tour in Mexico City which attracted large crowds shown live by TV Azteca.
Chavez Jr: “We conceded at everything they wanted, every single detail, the fight is finally here and I am glad. This fight is from Mexico and I am going to win.”
Canelo: “Some of you (the fans) don’t like me, some of you support me but the important thing is, this fight is for Mexico, Mexico deserves this kind of fight, it’s going to be a great one and I will prepare myself as I always do and we will see you May 6th.”
In intensity, the showdown could equal or even surpass the March 17, 1990, titanic battle in which Chavez Sr faced Meldrick Taylor, the undefeated IBF light welterweight champion, in a title unification fight.
The Ring named it the “Fight of the Year” for 1990 and later the “Fight of the Decade” for the 1990s. Chavez-Canelo could turn out that way, too.
Comments: mwale.simon@yahoo.co.uk 0966755574/0953744074