The word shadow is sometimes defined as an inseparable
companion or follower… a pervasive and dominant influence that can alter the
perception of one to another.
In a sport like boxing, having a shadow cast upon you can be extremely debilitating.
Every fighter walks into the ring with a semblance of a shadow spawned from expectations, association and sometimes their bloodline. How a fighter responds to the expectations can go a long way in determining the fate of their career.
In a sport like boxing, having a shadow cast upon you can be extremely debilitating.
Every fighter walks into the ring with a semblance of a shadow spawned from expectations, association and sometimes their bloodline. How a fighter responds to the expectations can go a long way in determining the fate of their career.
In the history of boxing, there’s never been a fighter with
a bigger shadow cast upon him than Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Julio was born into the sport and probably had a pair of gloves before he had a pair of shoes. His destiny was pre-fixed to be a fighter and after 47 victories accompanied by only one loss, one draw and one no contest, he’s a pretty damn good one at that.
It’s safe to say that the biggest fight Julio’s had is with his shadow… the moniker of an icon who bares the same name.
His father was more than a great fighter, he was a legend and one the greatest boxers in the history of the sport. Not only that, he represented one of the deepest cultures in boxing. A culture proud of its history and known for its gritty fighters.
Mexico was fixated with Chavez Sr. and he will forever be known as “El Gran Campeon”.
Julio was born into the sport and probably had a pair of gloves before he had a pair of shoes. His destiny was pre-fixed to be a fighter and after 47 victories accompanied by only one loss, one draw and one no contest, he’s a pretty damn good one at that.
It’s safe to say that the biggest fight Julio’s had is with his shadow… the moniker of an icon who bares the same name.
His father was more than a great fighter, he was a legend and one the greatest boxers in the history of the sport. Not only that, he represented one of the deepest cultures in boxing. A culture proud of its history and known for its gritty fighters.
Mexico was fixated with Chavez Sr. and he will forever be known as “El Gran Campeon”.
Fortunately for Julio, that shadow is slowly
dissipating.
After a unanimous decision loss to Sergio Martinez and a controversial decision win over Brian Vera, not only have expectations significantly decreased, his aura has as well.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is now his own fighter and though his name will continue to assist in packing arenas, he can finally set out to carve his own legacy.
After a unanimous decision loss to Sergio Martinez and a controversial decision win over Brian Vera, not only have expectations significantly decreased, his aura has as well.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is now his own fighter and though his name will continue to assist in packing arenas, he can finally set out to carve his own legacy.
What makes Chavez Jr. such an intriguing fighter is his
power.
He possesses a rough right hand and his left hook to the body is deadly.
In his bout with Sergio Martinez late in 2012, he was beat to the punch all night but never ceased from stalking his opponent. In the latter rounds, Martinez was a battered fighter and Chavez Jr. nearly pulled out a heroic knockout in the final three minutes! It was a round for the ages….
He possesses a rough right hand and his left hook to the body is deadly.
In his bout with Sergio Martinez late in 2012, he was beat to the punch all night but never ceased from stalking his opponent. In the latter rounds, Martinez was a battered fighter and Chavez Jr. nearly pulled out a heroic knockout in the final three minutes! It was a round for the ages….
His upcoming rematch with Brian Vera (23-7, 14 KO’s) on
March 1st at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX will be the beginning
of a new chapter for Julio.
A fighter without a shadow can feel a sense of freedom and the lack of expectation may allow Chavez Jr. to do what he was born to do; just fight.
Questions still loom as to whether he can ascend from a good fighter to one of superstar stature and for the first time in his career, all the excuses are gone.
The weight issues, marijuana issues, dedication issues will now take center stage for Chavez Jr.
If he offers a lackluster performance, it’s safe to say he’ll dissolve into the abyss of an average fighter. But if he comes out and obliterates Brian Vera, it opens the door for bouts with the likes of Andre Ward and Gennady Golovkin.
It’s an opportunity that Julio may have only received due to the enormous shadow that has haunted him… but if he squanders it, he’ll have to deal with the shadow of a once promising career.
A fighter without a shadow can feel a sense of freedom and the lack of expectation may allow Chavez Jr. to do what he was born to do; just fight.
Questions still loom as to whether he can ascend from a good fighter to one of superstar stature and for the first time in his career, all the excuses are gone.
The weight issues, marijuana issues, dedication issues will now take center stage for Chavez Jr.
If he offers a lackluster performance, it’s safe to say he’ll dissolve into the abyss of an average fighter. But if he comes out and obliterates Brian Vera, it opens the door for bouts with the likes of Andre Ward and Gennady Golovkin.
It’s an opportunity that Julio may have only received due to the enormous shadow that has haunted him… but if he squanders it, he’ll have to deal with the shadow of a once promising career.
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