Thursday, February 26, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

SPOTLIGHT: WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT: Champ seeks respect

Underdog Chavez says he will shock challenger Morales

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Jesus Chavez said he learned a lot from his last fight against a marquee opponent, a 2001 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Photo by John Gurzinski.

Jesus Chavez has a world title but says he won't feel like a world champion until his hand is raised Saturday.

Chavez won the WBC super featherweight title from Sirimongkol Singmannassuk on Aug. 15.

Singmannassuk never will be mentioned in the same breath as boxing's all-time greats. But on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, Chavez will face Erik Morales, a likely future Hall of Famer.

Chavez said he plans to legitimize himself as a champion with a victory similar to Morales' Feb. 19, 2000, win over Marco Antonio Barrera. That bout was named Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.

"This fight is about gaining respect, but it is about proving that I am a champion," said Chavez, a plus-260 underdog at the MGM Grand sports book.

Few outside of Chavez's camp give him much of a chance against Morales, 45-1 with 34 knockouts. Chavez said that doesn't bother him, but the usually carefree, friendly fighter is now a tightly wound ball of energy.

"If people doubt me, I can't help that," said Chavez, 40-2 with 28 knockouts. "I am in great shape, I have a good plan and I have learned so much from the last time I was in this situation."

That was Nov. 10, 2001, when Chavez faced another marquee fighter, Las Vegan Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather stopped him in the ninth round to win the title belt Chavez now wears.

Chavez, who had a tough time landing a clean blow against Mayweather's impressive defense, said that experience helped him immeasurably.

"My defense is so much better now, and I know how to use my defense and turn it into offense," Chavez said. "If Morales has a high punch output like he has so much, I am ready for that. You'll see a different Jesus Chavez and, because of that, you'll think you're seeing a different Erik Morales."

• BOXING NOTES -- Undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins on Wednesday signed the contract for his June 5 defense against Robert Allen and his Sept. 18 showdown with Oscar De La Hoya. Hopkins opened as a minus-115 favorite at the MGM sports book, with De La Hoya at minus-105. ... Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the legendary former champion, will make his U.S. debut in a four-round bout on Saturday's card. ... Jesus Chavez said he weighed 135 pounds Wednesday and insisted he was on schedule to make the 130-pound limit at Friday's weigh-in. ... Vic Drakulich will referee the Chavez-Morales fight. John Keane, Daniel van De Wiele and Burt Clements were appointed as judges.