Boxing
Expect the unexpected with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs. Hector Camacho Jr. and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Anderson Silva
If the uptick of fights between boxers vs. mixed martial artists or exhibition sweet science bouts have taught us anything, it's to expect the unexpected.
This Tribute to the Kings card, starring the legendary Chavez family shouldn't be any different. Here, DAZN News explains why it'd be wise to anticipate the unforeseen Saturday night, when Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. fights Hector Camacho Jr. and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. clashes with MMA legend Anderson Silva at Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, Mexico and live on pay-per-view.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs. Hector Camacho Jr.
The main event pitting the legendary Chavez Sr., 58, against the 42-year-old son of the late Hector Camacho is slugged as a special exhibition bout to mark the final in-ring appearance of the former and a salute to Camacho's dad. However, read between the lines of the headliners' words and actions and this clash might be building up to being ultra volatile, instead.
First, consider the history here: Back in September 1992, Chavez took his staggering 81-0 record into the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, where he proceeded to pummel Camacho Jr.'s father, especially with body shots, toward a unanimous decision.
Now, nearly 30 years later, what's being billed as a "special exhibition bout" has remnants of bad blood due to that personal history.
Need proof? Chavez Sr. and Camacho Jr. exchanged shoves, before they had to be separated during the recent press conference for their upcoming fight.
Even prior to that, Camacho Jr. took to his Instagram account in March and posted a promotional poster for the "Tribute to the Kings" card accompanied with the mud-slinging words: "Now I hope la Raza doesn't get pissed off at me after the a** whopping that I'm going to give to the 'Old Man.'"
More recently, Camacho even reminded MMA Junkie: "It's exhibition, but it's personal. He did beat my father, so I do want to, you know, get my hands on him."
Sounds like fighting words for sure, as the two will also renew the storied Mexican vs. Puerto Rican boxing rivalry in the process with Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara being the backdrop.
All this being said, the combined 100 years in the ring could very well generate more fireworks — not to mention an unpredictable factor — than a simple exhibition would ever suggest. After all, it's personal and neither fighter is about to deny it.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Anderson Silva
With all due respect to Chavez Jr., you just never know what you're going to get with him in the ring. On the grandest stage of his career against Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during Cinco de Mayo weekend in 2017, Chavez Jr. turned gun-shy and flat out stopped throwing punches across several sequences in the fight, which he wound up losing by unanimous decision.
Chavez Jr. also entered his December 2019 bout against Daniel Jacobs 4.7 pounds over the 168-pound super middleweight limit during the weigh-in, having to cough up his $1 million purse to "The Miracle Man" due to his infraction. Then, during the actual fight, he looked flat, eventually quitting on his stool following the fifth round, citing a broken nose. Fans at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona reacted to that choice by throwing debris at him, causing Chavez Jr. to make a beeline toward backstage in a speedy retreat. The scene had his dad shaking his head in disbelief ringside.
He'd lose to Mario Abel Cazares by technical decision in September 2020 as well due to a bad cut in the sixth round, before earning a fourth-round TKO of Jeyson Minda in November.
That inconsistent work has paved the way for this clash with Silva. Although Chavez Jr. looks to be in shape, what will Friday's weigh-in deliver?
If that unknown factor isn't enough, what Silva brings to the boxing ring should push the unpredictability factor to overdrive.
Yes, Silva has knockouts via punches to his MMA ledger, but this is different. Silva's tendency to drop his hands and abandon his guard altogether could spell doom against a trained, hard-hitting boxer 11 years his junior with 59 professional fights to his name.
There are so many scenarios for how this tilt can pan out: This fight could be ultra dangerous for Silva, an unforeseen letdown for Chavez Jr. based on his recent history, flat and uneventful, or strangely entertaining.
Simply put: Expect the unexpected with the Chavez father and son duo and their respective fights.
The Tribute to the Kings pay-per-view card can be ordered and live streamed via Fite.TV. Check its site for any restrictions in your country. DAZN News will also be live blogging the card Saturday night with all the live updates, results and highlights.
