HOUSTON, TX — Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KOs) showed ring generalship, power and finally killer instinct in landing over 40 unanswered punches in the fifth round to score a technical knockout over a determined but overmatched Peter Manfredo (37-7, 20 KOs).
After a feel out first round, Chavez found range and dominated the second and third stanzas with straight rights. Chavez stayed on the backfoot and used his long reach to potshot Manfredo. In contrast, Manfredo offense looked inept as he lunged in off-balance trying to get inside.
Manfredo got range in the fourth and caught Chavez Jr. with a hard left hook. Chavez continued scoring well with long straight rights, but Manfredo also had big moments by strafing Chavez with hooks against the ropes. While Chavez held a small edge with clean punching, Manfredo showed the necessary pressure and inside fighting he needed to be competitive.
A confident Manfredo tried to replicate his success in round five only to walk into a sharp right cross. Manfredo legs buckled and Chavez immediately pinned him to the ropes with over 40 unanswered punches. Manfredo attempted to slip shots, but the punches that did get in and the lack of return offense prompted referee Laurence Cole to stop the bout just as Manfredo secured a clinch.
The win is Chavez Jr.’s first defense of the WBC middleweight title he won earlier this year against Sebastian Zbik. With division champ Sergio Martinez at ringside, Chavez Jr. declared his willingness to face him or potential Mexican rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
“I want to fight the best. Sergio Martinez is a great champion. Canelo would be a great fight for the Mexican public,” said Chavez Jr. “But it all depends on what my promoter [Bob Arum] says. I fear no one!”
Manfredo, who vowed to retire if he failed to get a HBO win in his third network appearance, called the stoppage quick but expected in front of a pro-Mexican crowd.
“I’m not a HBO fighter I guess,” Manfredo quipped. “He caught me with a good shot. I was in the game trying to figure him out and getting closer and closer… It (the stoppage) was quick but what are you going to do, its boxing. Its his hometown; this is like Mexico City for him. I knew what I was coming in against.”
On the undercard, Joshua Clottey bounced back from last year’s horrid performance against Manny Pacquiao with a 2nd round knockout of Calvin Greene. The bout was Clottey’s debut at middleweight.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
I’m a bit surprised by how little credit Chavez is getting on other site’s reports for this dominat win. The editorials should be “Chavez looks better than we thought”, not “Chavez would get killed by Martinez”, no? In any case, an enjoyable fight.