Chavez Jr suffers first knockdown, TKO loss vs Fonfara

Ryan Songalia

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Chavez Jr suffers first knockdown, TKO loss vs Fonfara
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was knocked down in round 9 and didn't answer the bell for round 10, losing by technical knockout for the first time

MANILA, Philippines – Former middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr suffered the first technical knockout loss of his career on Saturday night, April 18, retiring in his corner before the tenth round of his fight against Andrzej Fonfara at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, Calif. 

Chavez (48-2-1, 32 knockouts) was knocked down for the first time in his career on a left hook from Fonfara (27-3, 16 KOs) with a minute remaining in the ninth round. Chavez rose up on unsteady legs but continued to be the aggressor until the bell rang.

Chavez did not answer the bell to begin the tenth round, asking new trainer Joe Goossen to stop the fight after complaining of an injured leg. Irate fans from the announced crowd of 8,636 in attendance began showering the ring with beer cans and debris after the fight concluded.

Chavez, who was fighting for the first time in 13 months, was in the first fight of a new deal with advisor Al Haymon after leaving Top Rank, which promoted his career since his debut in 2003. The 29-year-old from Culiacan, Mexico trailed by scores 88-81 on two cards and 89-80 on the third at the time of stoppage. 

The fight was contested at a catchweight of 172 pounds. Chavez said afterwards that he felt he was winning the fight after 7 rounds, but that his opponent was ultimately too strong for him. 

“I feel good but this is a different weight. I tried to make my fight, go to the body but the guy is heavy. I feel not heavy hands but heavy body. I want a rematch at 170,” said Chavez, who is the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. 

“I’m a fighter, I can lose, I can win but I fight for the fans. I think this is a good fight for the fans. I lost but I’m here.” 

Fonfara, 27, of Chicago, Ill. by way of Warsaw, Poland said that he knew he was going to win early on, saying that Chavez didn’t have the power to hurt him.

“I know that Chavez is a tough fighter, he don’t quit. He’s in good shape but when I started the first round, I knew I’d win this fight,” said Fonfara, who said that he wants a rematch with RING magazine light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, who defeated him by decision in May of 2014.  

Chavez Jr’s career began to sour in 2012, when he sustained his first loss to reigning middleweight champion Sergio Martinez by decision. He was suspended for nine months afterwards for testing positive for marijuana.

Since then he has fought just once a year, splitting with trainer Freddie Roach and struggling with weight issues. – Rappler.com

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