FORMER WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr thrilled his fans in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico on Saturday night (August 10) by knocking out Evert Bravo in the opening round.
Fighting at light-heavyweight, the enigmatic Mexican exchanged a few jabs and hooks with Bravo, before backing him up to the ropes and landing a perfectly placed left hook to the liver. The Colombian grimaced from the pain of the punch and dropped to his knees, where he was counted out at 1-22, much to the delight of the locals at the Estadio Antonio R. Marquez.
Chavez, whose last appearance had been a shutout points defeat to Canelo Alvarez 27 months ago, said that the impressive finish was the result of a hard training camp.
“Boxing is like that,” the 33-year-old stated. “I wanted to give the fans more of a show, but that hook connected well. I’m very happy, as I prepared like never before.”
Bravo’s previous loss had come in April against Alfredo Angulo, who KO’d him in two rounds. Chavez hopes to face his rugged countryman next, before targeting world honours once again.
“I want to return in September against Angulo,” Chavez declared. “Then I want to go for the super-middleweight or light-heavyweight title.”
