Report/Photos by Boxing Bob Newman at ringside
One of Puerto Rico’s favorite boxing sons- Miguel Cotto, put on a stellar fight card in the midst of the 35th WBO convention, at Coliseo Roberto Clemente this evening. Topping the bill were semi-main event Nestor Bravo vs Adrian Yung in a vacant NABO Jr. Welter title battle and Bryan Chevalier vs Cesar Juarez duking it out for the vacant WBO Inter-continental strap in the main event.
If the semi-main event was a Mexican/Puerto Rican war, then the main event was Mexican/Puerto Rican Armageddon! Bryan Chevalier of Bayamon, PR and Cesar Juarez of Mexico City, MX put on a battle for the ages. Seconds into the bout, Juarez was dropped by a snappy left hook, but was unhurt and up instantly. From that point on, it was trench warfare as Juarez dragged the lanky Chevalier into a phone booth and wailed away, grunting like a caveman with every blow. More of the same in the second from bell-to-bell. In the third, both seemed a tad winded and the pattern was Chevalier jabbing and moving with Juarez looking to close the gap. In the fourth, it was back to the previous tactics as Chevalier tried to jab and move, but in no time at all, Juarez barreled him into the ropes and it was bombs away again. Chevalier got hurt and tried to get on his bicycle, but a follow-up barrage sent him down! In the fifth and sixth, it seemed the entire Roberto Clemente Coliseum was on its feet, losing their collective minds as blows landed and missed by both men at a frenzied pace. Both were cut and battered and it seemed one blow could end it for either man. Each man was warned for flagrant low blows as well. By the seventh, Chevalier was determined to fight at a distance, but with long, hard shots. The strategy worked as he caught Juarez with several telling blows, buckling the Mexican’s legs, but Juarez waved him forward, in a true display of Mexican machismo. What Juarez didn’t do was defend himself. In a scene reminiscent of Pryor-Arguello #1, Juarez’ head snapped back as he lie on the ropes, a follow-up was launched and referee Johnny Guzman had seen enough, saving Juarez at 1:55 of the seventh. Chevalier picks up the WBO Inter-Continental belt for his troubles and moves to 18-1-1, 14 KOs, while Juarez slides to 27-13, 20 KOs. Continue reading “Chevalier, Bravo victorious in Puerto Rico”