Chavez vs. Vanda: A boxing card with depth

Steve Marcus

Left: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of Mexico, son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, works on his timing with Vladimir Balderebro at Top Rank Gym. Right: Matt Vanda of St. Paul, Minn., Chavez’s opponent Saturday in a 10-round super welterweight bout, shadowboxes during a workout at Top Rank Gym.

By Jeff Haney (contact)

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008 | 2 a.m.

1. Going deep

The rematch between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Matt Vanda headlines today’s card, but promoter Bob Arum is framing the show as a sort of cavalcade of boxing stars. The lineup includes established world champions such as Nonito Donaire and Jorge Arce, an unbeaten super lightweight contender in Lamont Peterson, a 2004 U.S. Olympian in Vanes Martirosyan, and the pro debut of two-time amateur world champ Matt Korobov.

“These are the guys you’ll be hearing about for years to come,” Arum said. “These are bad times economically, so you have to give the people more for less.” Tickets are priced attractively: For the face-value cost of one ringside seat for the Dec. 6 Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao fight, Arum said, you could buy 30 tickets to today’s event.

2. No doubt

Nearly four months ago, in Hermosillo, Mexico, the judges’ split decision for Chavez against Vanda in their first fight precipitated a minor riot at the Palenque De La Expo, with Mexican fans booing, throwing cups of beer, and even prompting Chavez Sr. to enter the stands looking to mix it up. At first glance, Mexicans booing a Chavez seems about as likely as California railbirds booing Silky Sullivan. Most of the derision, however, was directed at the judge who scored the close fight 10 rounds to none in favor of Chavez. “There was a lot of controversy around the first fight,” Chavez, 22, said. “I don’t like doubt and (this time) I’m leaving no doubt. There will be no doubt who the better man is.”

3. 10 more rounds

Vanda, who rallied late in the first fight after Chavez controlled the early rounds, readily agreed to another go-round in Las Vegas — even as he acknowledged that he was widely expected to provide yet another “W” for Chavez’s record in Hermosillo. A plus 350 betting underdog in today’s fight, Vanda would have to overcome sizable odds to deal Chavez his first loss. Vanda looks at the rematch as rounds 11 through 20 of one long fight. “We already did 10 rounds so I think we know each other’s style pretty good,” said Vanda, 30, of St. Paul, Minn. “If it goes 10 rounds, I plan to win every round decisively.”

4. Still hungry

Donaire, a native of General Santos City in the Philippines — Manny Pacquiao’s hometown — is making the second defense of his IBF flyweight world championship. He won the title last year when he knocked out Vic Darchinyan with a sensational left hook, earning upset of the year and knockout of the year honors for 2007 from The Ring magazine. Darchinyan fights Cristian Mijares today in Carson, Calif. Donaire has vowed not to look past Moruti Mthalane, a Zulu from Durban, South Africa. “I’m going into this ring as hungry as I came into that ring with Darchinyan,” Donaire said.

5. By Jorge

Isidro Garcia threatened to send Arce back to his homeland in Mexico “to do another soap opera” — a reference to Arce’s ongoing star turns on Mexican reality TV programs. Arce, wildly popular for a 115-pounder and the only guy since Kojak to make sucking a lollipop look cool, just laughed. He then predicted not only a stoppage, but a victory by spectacular knockout of Garcia. It’s a distinct possibility, given Arce’s exciting style. Arce, who’s virtually always fighting for an “interim” world title, whatever that means (he’s officially 7-0 in interim championship fights), plans to eventually step up to bantamweight to chase another belt.