Canelo Outpoints Chavez, Lemieux Outpoints Reyes in Hard Fought HBO Wars
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (May 7th, 2017)– Most experts had predicted Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, David Lemieux, and Lucas Matthysse would all win by knockout or stoppage on HBO at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday evening, May 6, 2017. Matthysse would drop opponent Emmanuel Taylor in the third and fifth rounds and win by stoppage after a 19 month layoff.
Canadian middleweight heavy hitter David Lemieux managed to cause a cut over the right eye of game Marcos Reyes. The blood streamed down the side of the face of Reyes but did not interfere with his vision. Referee Robert Byrd let the bout run. Reyes was bigger, taller, and had height and reach advantage and did his best to move side to side and stay out of Lemieux’s range.
Reyes appeared to win at least three or four rounds, with very effective defense, counterpunching combinations and singly placed body shots. In the end, Lemieux did enough work on the inside to win, but the bout was far closer than the 99-90, 99-90 and 98-91 scorecards after 10 rounds indicated. Reyes lost a point for hitting after the bell in round eight.
In a super middleweight nontitle bout, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez pitched a 12 round shutout of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. However, the bout has a number of interesting aspects to it.
Chavez appeared bigger, taller, and had reach advantage, forcing Canelo to get inside to outwork him. Canelo did so, but remained cautiously throughout, doing enough to win each round but not taking unnecessary chances. The bout went around the ring in careful circles clockwise, as the fighters carefully chose their punches and tried to gain positional advantage. Canelo threw a few haymakers which missed, and tried to bait Chavez in while playing possum on the ropes several times, but Chavez did not fall for it.
Canelo, cognizant of Chavez’ knockdown of Sergio Gabriel Martinez late in the twelfth round when they fought for Martinez’ world middleweight title, was careful not to let the hard hitting Chavez have any similar opportunity. Still, Chavez went the 12 round distance with Canelo at 164 pounds, and was never in trouble at any time. The only injury of minor note was a small nosebleed incurred by Chavez, which did not impact on the outcome of the bout. To win, Chavez needed to outjab Canelo from the outside while maintaining distance range. As soon as Canelo got inside on Chavez, the outcome of the bout was decided. Canelo could not do anything significant with Chavez for all 12 rounds. The bout was not a Mexican war. It was, in the least a high level competitive bout, with little holding.
Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin was in attendance at ringside. Golovkin came into the ring to meet Canelo to finally announce his long anticipated championship fight which will take place September 16th. After the bout, in a gesture of fine sportsmanship, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. entered the ring and greeted Canelo and his corner people and entourage very warmly. Clean bout, with the ring well controlled by veteran referee Kenny Bayless. Scoring appeared neutral, fair and consistent.
Result: Saul Alvarez Win 12 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Super Middleweights
Scoring: 120-108, 120-108, and 120-108 for Alvarez. Referee: Kenny Bayless.
Contractual catchweight of 164.5 pounds. Both fighters weighed in at 164 pounds.
HBO Undercard Results, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Referees: Robert Byrd, Vic Drakulich, Russell Mora, Jay Nady, Tony Weeks
David Lemieux Win 10 Marcos Reyes, Super Middleweights
Joseph Diaz Win 10 Manual Avila, Retains NABF Featherweight Title
Lucas Matthysse TKO 5 Emmanuel Taylor, Welterweights (2:21)
Taylor was knocked down in the third and fifth rounds
Ronny Rios TKO 4 Daniel Noriega (2:22)
Ryan Garcia TKO 2 Tyrone Luckey, Lightweights (2:20)
Luckey was knocked down in the first round
Joseph Aguirre Win 6 Angel Aispuro, Lightweights
Raul Curiel Win Majority Decision 4 Jesus Ibarra Sanchez, Lightweights
Pro Debut for 2016 Olympian Raul Curiel of Mexico
Marlen Esparza Win 4 Martha Salazar, Female Flyweights (Three Minute Rounds)
English