Welcome to Fightful.com's live coverage of Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. While this bout is not for any world title, Canelo and Chavez Jr. are fighting for bragging rights in one of the biggest All-Mexican boxing main events in the sport's history.
We'll be bringing you quick results of the undercard, recaps of the main card and round-by-round coverage of the main event which will be broadcasted on HBO pay-per-view as well as online streaming at goldenboyppv.com.
Fightful will have a live post-pay-per-view podcast with Carlos Toro and Steven Muehlhausen.
You can also send in your feedback on our Disqus boards below!
Here's the main televised card (HBO PPV, GoldenBoy.com, FITE TV app, 9 p.m. ET)
Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
David Lemieux defeated Marco Reyes via unanimous decision (99-90, 99-90, 98-91)
Lucas Matthysse defeated Emmanuel Taylor via KO, round 5, 2:21
Joseph Diaz Jr. defeated Manuel “Tino” Avila via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
Here's the televised undercard (Fightful, 7 p.m. ET)
Marlen Esparza defeated Samantha Salazar (40-36, 40-36, 40-36)
Raul Curiel defeated Jesus Sanchez via majority decision (38-38, 40-36, 40-36)
Ryan Garcia defeated Tyrone Luckey via TKO, round 2, 2:20
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UNDERCARD
Raul Curiel defeated Jesus Sanchez via majority decision (38-38, 40-36, 40-36): This was Curiel's first professional fight and by no means was this supposed to be a tough fight. Sanchez is not a pushover, but few expected this fight to be very competitive. Sanchez had his fair share moments of dominance, using numerous combos and setting up with the jab throughout the fight.
Curiel, who was a part of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games roster for Mexico, stayed composed and was the slightly more active fighter throughout the bout. By the time the fourth and final round came along, there was a sense of urgency from both fighters to win this fight. Although Sanchez lost the fight, his stock did rise from the strong performance.
Marlen Esparza defeated Samantha Salazar (40-36, 40-36, 40-36): The story of this fight is that this bout was a 4-round bout, but each round lasted three minutes instead of the traditional two-minute rounds for women's boxing matches. This fight was not really much of a spectacle, but Esparza easily won this fight after landing a wide variety of punches throughout the bout. Connecting with the jab, uppercut and overhead right, Esparza, a bronze medalist in the 2012 Summer Olympic games, now improves to 2-0 as a professional boxer.
Ryan Garcia defeated Tyrone Luckey via TKO, round 2, 2:20: Garcia quickly knocked down Luckey in the first round and from that point on, Garcia had been pummeling Luckey throughout the fight. Garcia had Luckey on the ropes towards the end of the second round. Luckey was almost going to fall through ropes and into the outside, but the referee stopped the bout. Garcia improves to 9-0 in his career.
MAIN CARD
Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. Manuel “Tino” Avila: The fight got off to a solid start in the first couple of rounds. Lots of quick counter punching from both guys in the first few rounds. Diaz has been able to connect more punches as the fight progressed, specifically the left jab. Avila keeps trying to throw combos to his right, but Diaz has a counter for anything Avila throws at him.
About halfway through the fight, Diaz starts to throw more body shots, it seemed. Diaz managed to make a cut around Avila’s left eye in the sixth round with a right hook that scrapes Avila’s left eye. From that point forward, Avila had been less active in throwing punches as Diaz keeps winning rounds. As the fight keeps nearing to its conclusion, it got more boring and the crowd started becoming disinterested. Expected more from two exciting prospects, especially from Diaz Jr. Diaz remains undefeated and keeps inching closer towards a world title shot.
Official Result: Joseph Diaz Jr. defeated Manuel “Tino” Avila via unanimous decision (100-90, 99-91, 99-91)
Lucas Matthysse vs. Emmanuel Taylor: Matthysse’s right hand was in full display at the start of the fight, leaving Taylor buzzed in the first two rounds. To start the third round, both boxers’ heads clash, leaving a cut near Matthysse’s right eye. Taylor was a lot more active coming out of the break after the headbutt, but Matthysse knocks down Taylor with a big right hand that goes past Taylor’s defense. Matthysse keeps cruising through the next few rounds with strong finishes, especially with the right hand.
Taylor got knocked out in the fifth round, starting with a hard left body shot by Matthysse that wobbles Taylor. Matthysse then hits a hard right hand to Taylor which locks his knees. Matthysse completed the knockout sequence with a hard left, giving him the win.
Outstanding performance by the Argentine boxer. Matthysse is carrying a lot of the same power as he did throughout his career, but his hands aren’t as fast as they used to be when he fought at junior welterweight.
Official result: Lucas Matthysse defeated Emmanuel Taylor via KO, round 5, 2:21
David Lemieux vs. Marcos Reyes: As expected, Lemieux starts off by landing some very heavy shots, leaving Reyes’ left eye to swell early in the second round. Lemieux opens up a cut outside of Reyes’ right eye and he is bleeding a lot from that cut. Lemieux continues to go hard on Reyes, beating him to a bloody pulp with hard punches, but Reyes is hanging in there. Reyes is still landing the occasional punch or two, but isn’t doing much damage to Lemieux.
Reyes starts to land numerous punches throughout the fourth and fifth rounds, putting himself back in the fight, but is still struggling to evade some of Lemieux’s harder punches. Lemieux’s punches eventually starts to slow down and not carry the same power as he did in the first three rounds.
The seventh round starts to change for the better for Lemieux. His rhythm starts to pick up a little bit, hurting Reyes a couple of times as he continues to bleed a lot again. The eighth round was eventful towards the end when Reyes and Lemieux get physical after the bell and Reyes gets a point deducted.
Reyes showed unbelievable levels of heart. There were numerous times throughout the fight in which almost every other boxer would have gotten knocked out silly by Lemieux. Reyes’ chin and heart was a sight to see in this fight, but Reyes is just not at Lemieux’s level as a boxer.
Official Result: David Lemieux defeated Marco Reyes via unanimous decision (99-90, 99-90, 98-91)
Canelo Alvarez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Round 1: Canelo starts off with a couple of hard hooks, one to the Chavez’s head and another to the body. Chavez now throws an uppercut. Canelo responds with a couple of left jabs. Canelo is the more aggressive fighter in round one. Chavez hasn’t been throwing the jab as he should be doing. Canelo throws a 1-2 combo and is pushing Chavez, the bigger fighter.
Fightul scored round 1 for Canelo 10-9
Round 2: Canelo starts off with a solid combination to the body of Chavez. Canelo is in prime form early in the fight. Canelo lands a left uppercut, followed by two left hooks to the body and then two uppercuts. Chavez throws a couple of jabs of his own. Both fighters get close, but Canelo lands an uppercut and then a stiff left. Canelo has been landing the left to the body very well in this round.
Fightul scored round 2 for Canelo 10-9
Round 3: Canelo throws a jab and then a short right by him lands on Chavez. Canelo lands a hard 1-2 combo. Chavez is moving across the ring while Caelo is planted in the middle of the ring while the smaller Canelo lands a three-punch combo. Chavez’s right eye is starting to swell, but lands a big right hand flush, which Canelo took it well.
Fightul scored round 3 for Canelo 10-9
Round 4: Canelo lands hard right hook to Chavez’s body. Big right hand by Chavez, but Canelo fires right back and is still in control of the fight in all aspects. Canelo then lands a series of combos and momentarily hurts Chavez. So far, no contest as Canelo is running away with this fight.
Fightul scored round 4 for Canelo 10-9
Round 5: Canelo begins with a stiff left jab and Canelo then lands a hard right hand. Canelo is constantly throwing one hard punch at a time, methodically taking down his opponent. Canelo hurts Chavez with a tough right hand and then lands numerous flurries at Chavez. Chavez looks lost in the ring.
Fightul scored round 5 for Canelo 10-9
Round 6: Canelo starts off with a 1-2 and then an overhead right to Chavez. Chavez throws a weak short jab and Canelo responds with hard left hands and an uppercut combo. Chavez has Canelo on the ropes with a sudden burst and combo, but Canelo is simply resting there. Canelo starts to fight off the ropes and throws a couple right hands.
Fightul scored round 6 for Canelo 10-9
Round 7: Chavez starts off with a lunging left hook, but Canelo starts to dominate with a 1-2-3. Canelo is back on the ropes and Chavez starts to throw a couple of punches to the body. Canelo answers back with a massive combo. Canelo’s punches are just as sharp in the seventh round as it was in the first round. Chavez throws a couple of short uppercuts, bt doesn’t do much else for the rest of the round.
Fightul scored round 7 for Canelo 10-9
Round 8: Canelo starts off with a big 1-2. Chavez has some life left in him, throwing a good right hand along the ropes. Canelo then lands a huge right hand, and Chavez has been doing well to eat those punches. Canelo then goes to the body and Chavez is on the ropes for a quick second. So far, it’s been a complete mismatch.
Fightul scored round 8 for Canelo 10-9
Round 9: Canelo starts the round with a solid right hand. Chavez then lands a couple of quick shots, pinning Canelo along the ropes. Chavez throwing more body shots with Canelo on the ropes. Canelo says enough is enough and then throws a 1-2 to get back to the center of the ring. Another hard right jab by Canelo. Canelo is back on the ropes, but Chavez isn’t throwing a lot of punches this time around.
Fightul scored round 9 for Canelo 10-9
Round 10: Canelo throws a hard left. Chavez then misses with the short uppercut. Canelo then goes for the quick 1-2 and Chavez is just moving around the ring, barely throwing anything. Canelo continues his usual onslaught as the crowd is booing Chavez for being complacent.
Fightul scored round 10 for Canelo 10-9
Round 11: *Sigh* This is getting sad. Chavez keeps eating body shot after body shot by Canelo as the record-setting crowd at T-Mobile Arena is booing Chavez and chanting Canelo’s name. It’s not a fight anymore.
Fightul scored round 11 for Canelo 10-9
Round 12: Canelo starts off aggressively, pinning Chavez to the rope and throwing a couple of hard right body shots. Canelo then lands a tough uppercut to Chavez’s chin. Canelo throws another 1-2 as Chavez barely throws a punch in the first 90 seconds of the fight. Canelo throws yet another 1-2 to Chavez. This fight was a colossal disappointment.
Fightul scored round 12 for Canelo 10-9, making it 120-108 for Canelo
Official result: Canelo Alvarez defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. via unanimous decision (120-108, 120-108, 120-108)
