173-lb Catchweight Bout: Bryan Vera (23-6) vs. Julio Cesar Chavez (46-1-1)
Luke Irwin: I want to believe. I want Chavez to take a pounding like he deserves for being such a lazy, lackadaisical child. Who the hell is so slovely in their training that a catchweight needs to be set THIRTEEN POUNDS over the initial weight AND shortened two rounds?! That’s unbelievable. Atrocious, and I wish he didn’t have that last round against Martinez to reaffirm his own belief in himself. Screw it, we know JCC is going to come in soft physically, and it’s obvious he isn’t taking this seriously, and Vera is just the kind of hard-nosed blue-collar veteran that can make him pay and gas him out. Vera via UD.
Nolan Howell: Brian Vera has a very real path to victory. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. clearly came to this fight out of shape and had it is his way like he did every day of his training camp, conducted in a Burger King play place. If Vera can come forward and make Chavez work, it could be a long night en route to a close decision. Factor in the ring-rust that could be there are a suspension and Chavez May not be in proper condition to take this fight. However, Vera still isn’t as skilled as Chavez and the latter is the smart bet to win a somewhat tainted fight with his power and all-around solid game. Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. by fifth-round TKO.
WBC Light Heavyweight Championship: Adonis Stevenson (c) (21-1) vs. Tavoris Cloud (24-1)
Luke Irwin: Cloud is coming off his first career defeat at the hands of Bernard Hopkins, losing his longtime IBF strap. Stevenson is coming off an utter showstopping KO of Chad Dawson. Everyone expected Dawson to outbox and outclass Stevenson with ease, but everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face (ht: Mike Tyson). I think Adonis’s wild ride continues here and catches Tavoris trying to overthink. Stevenson via R7 KO.
Nolan Howell: In what is probably the better fight of the night, the powerful Adonis Stevenson looks to prove himself further after a first-round KO of chad Dawson. He will take on the slick Tavoris Cloud, who looks to get back in the win column after a tough decision loss to Bernard Hopkins. The most damning thing for Cloud is his drop-off in his last two fights, namely against Gabriel Campillo, who has looked very shot as of lately. Cloud cannot afford to be opened up on against a monster like Stevenson. Expect violence. Adonis Stevenson by third-round KO.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Edison Miranda (35-8) vs. Eleider Alvarez (12-0)
Luke Irwin: No surprise that this is the co-main on Stevenson-Cloud, as the winner will likely take on one of the two. Miranda will play his usual part of “tough, dirty stepstool” to the Pan-American champ and Olympian, Alvarez. Miranda will have his bag o’dirty tricks, but Alvarez is, and this term gets thrown around way too easily, world class, and will just box around it to a cruising victory. Alvarez via UD.
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