His own man, Chavez Jr. takes aim at title fight

Steve Marcus

Matt Vanda takes a punch from Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. during a super welterweight fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

By Jeff Haney (contact)

Monday, Nov. 3, 2008 | 2 a.m.

No one likes a drive-by psychoanalyst, so it figures Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would scoff at Matt Vanda’s dime-store diagnosis after their fight Saturday at Mandalay Bay.

This was the night, Vanda pronounced after losing the 10-round pay-per-view headliner, that Chavez completed his transformation from “just a kid” to being “his own man.”

“He grew up in the ring tonight,” Vanda said after Chavez stayed unbeaten in 39 fights with a victory by unanimous decision in the 156-pound showdown.

It was a rematch devoid of controversy, unlike their first meeting four months ago in Hermosillo, Mexico. The result there, a split decision for Chavez, stirred up a beer-tossing uprising in the arena and prompted a hastily arranged reprise to take place on the Strip.

In Chavez-Vanda II — they called it “Final Impact,” one of those titles that veers a little too close for comfort to the name of a Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicle — the fireworks were confined to the ring.

Vanda, a rugged Minnesotan with a heavily tattooed body and raw skills, rocked Chavez more than once during the closely fought middle rounds Saturday. Even Vanda acknowledged, however, that he ultimately could not match the Mexican’s pure and multifaceted boxing talent.

Though he was gracious in victory, Chavez remained skeptical of Vanda’s whole kid-into-man take. After all, Chavez said, he was suffering from flu-like symptoms in the first fight, which hampered his performance against Vanda in Sonora.

“The thing is this,” Chavez said. “Vanda didn’t know me when I was 100 percent (healthy). I don’t like excuses, but I was sick in Hermosillo. If I was 100 percent, it would have been a different fight.”

Still, at least a kernel of truth exists in Vanda’s analysis.

Since turning pro at the age of 17 in 2003 with no amateur fights, Chavez has labored in the shadow of his legendary father. He has maintained an active schedule, building an impressive record and a loyal fan base but fighting against mostly unimposing competition.

It’s only now that talk is turning serious regarding a world championship challenge for Chavez. His first title shot would likely take place at super welterweight, and Chavez hopes it can be arranged for next year.

Chavez mentioned Vernon Forrest, the WBC champion at 154 pounds, as a possible opponent but stressed he would fight anyone his promoters at Top Rank line up for him.

“I’m not in a position to choose fighters,” Chavez said. “I have a boss, Bob Arum, and I receive my orders from him.”

Just then, though, the scene grew curiouser and curiouser.

If you were paying close attention, it almost seemed as if Chavez was quietly spinning the soft primordial core of an eventual call-out of Oscar De La Hoya, who beat the Chavez paterfamilias twice.

First, Chavez cracked that given “the way things are in the world now,” perhaps his next fight should come against super flyweight Jorge Arce. It was a thinly disguised jab at De La Hoya for choosing a much lighter opponent, Manny Pacquiao, for his Dec. 6 megafight.

Then Chavez predicted that Pacquiao would score an upset of De La Hoya in that bout.

“A lot of people are saying it’s a crazy fight, but from my vantage point Oscar De La Hoya is going to have a very tough time with Manny Pacquiao,” Chavez said. “I want to put my money on Pacquiao.”

Their weights jibe, but a Chavez-De La Hoya title fight stands as a long shot.

For one thing, the onslaught of Shakespearian analogies alone would be enough to strangle the boxing world’s collective mind.

For another, De La Hoya has been on a kick in which he refuses to consider fighting any Mexicans out of respect for his heritage.

And we all know boxers never change their minds.