Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. entered the ring determined to avenge his December 16th draw with Carlos Molina but left with only a majority decision. Determined to prove his place in the ring, he battled head-to-head with his Molina for the six round limit in a fight that favored his opponent’s style. It was a battle in which Chavez was not able to use all the tools available to him but in which he showed he has the heart of a true fighter.
Chavez started out more quickly in this fight than in their previous bout, but Molina was just as active or more, winning the early rounds. Chavez could have won the rounds by using his reach advantage and jabbing from the outside but was eager to slug it out with Molina and give the fans a show. The difference in power was obvious almost from the start. Chavez hurt Molina a few times, punishing him especially when he was able to land his left to the body, while he didn’t even seem to feel Molina’s punches at all, even when Molina was able to get in a good shot to the chin.
By round four, Molina was a bit more hesitant about coming in to trade with Chavez and got in a couple of forearms when he did. Referee Toby Gibson was ready to give Chavez his five-minute break after a low blow from Molina, but Chavez opted to keep keep fighting. His punches hurt his opponent enough to keep Molina running for most of round five, though round six ended in a head-to-head battle once more with both combatants giving it everything they had.
Had the fight been scheduled for eight or ten rounds, Chavez would no doubt have gone on to win a more convincing decision or even a knockout, but the bout was only scheduled for six. The fight went to the scorecards. One judge had it a draw and the other two 58-56 for Chavez.
In the main event, WBO Welterweight titleist Antonio Margarito knocked out Manuel Gomez at just 2:19 into the first round. WBC Light Flyweight titleist Brian Viloria and WBO Minimumweight titleist Ivan Calderon won unanimous decisions over Jose Antonio Aguirre and Isaac Bustos respectively.
Referee: Toby Gibson
Judge: Duane Ford 58-56
Judge: Patricia Morse Jarman 58-56
Judge: Jerry Roth 57-57
Broadcast: Top Rank PPV
Ring announcer: Lupe Contreras
Commentator: Bernardo Osuna
Commentator: Mario Lopez
Commentator: Alan Massengale