In a highly-entertaining battle of second-generation welterweight prospects, the 24-year-old Jorge Paez Jr. (30-4-1, 18 KOs) scored a majority 10-round decision over 21-year-old Omar Chavez (27-1-1, 20 KOs) in Mexico.
The early rounds were contested up close, forehead touching forehead, both fighters engaged in heated back and forth exchanges. Paez, who had the faster hands and more fluid technique, got the better of the heavier-handed Chavez, who was never hurt, but seemed bothered and legitimately frustrated.
Around the sixth, though, Paez took the fight to the outside and Chavez, who was accompanied to the ring by trainer Freddie Roach, was able to take advantage of his edge in height and reach. Although he managed to even up the contest in the later rounds, Paez was still clearly in control and, having withstood Chavez’s heaviest shots, was fighting with more confidence.
Despite the fact that most saw Paez comfortably ahead, decisions involving the Chavez brothers are never slam-dunk certainties when it comes to fairness. This time, though, everything seemed mostly on the level. Paez took the decision by scores of 99-93 and 99-93, with a bizarre 95-95 thrown in for good measure. The Boxing Tribune scored the fight 97-93 in favor of Paez.
On the undercard, well-traveled Mexican journeyman Cecilio Santos (27-21-4, 17 KOs) was robbed of a major upset against former flyweight world titlist Julio Cesar Miranda (37-6-1, 29 KOs) in a bout where he clearly outworked the former titlist. The judges’ scores were: 95-95, 96-94, and 96-95, giving Miranda the majority decision win. The Boxing Tribune scored the bout 97-93 in favor of Santos.
