Chavez: 'You haven't seen 100% yet!"
Chavez wants a world title in ’09; Donaire to fight Arce or Montiel next

Report and photos by Chris Cozzone
- FightWireImages.com

“I don’t like doubts,” Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. told the media last night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas following his rematch against Matt Vanda. “Tonight, I cleared any doubts.”

Unlike his first fight with Vanda, this time around, Chavez dominated the fight, winning a lopsided decision with scores of 99-91, 97-93 and 98-92, in front of a pro-Mexican crowd of 5,414.

“I don’t like to be predictable,” said Chavez. “So, tonight I tried to box. I proved I can go the whole ten rounds. There were a lot of people criticizing me, that I took too many punches. Tonight, I proved I have a very good defense.

“But you haven’t seen me at 100 percent yet.”

That, said Chavez, will most likely happen next year.

“I’m still learning,” said the undefeated contender. “Next year, it’ll be bigger and better things for me. I would like to fight for a world title.”

Chavez was reluctant to drop any names, giving the standard “up-to-my-promoter” response, but, after joking about fighting Jorge Arce (if De La Hoya can fight the small guys, why can’t I?), admitted that Vernon Forrest would be his pick.

“You haven’t seen the best Chavez yet—but you will.”

Despite the loss, Vanda was in good spirits, praising his victor.

“The son of a bitch is tough,” said Vanda.

“I came to fight and wanted to win real bad. The kid . . . well, the kid was a man tonight. He kept out of my range and I couldn’t get him. He was busy and kept me off balance, but never hurt me. He won the fight, fair and square. I guess he must’ve learned a little bit from his father.

“As for me, I’ll get back in the gym and get back for another fight.”

Promoter Bob Arum said we’d see Vanda on a future Top Rank card.

. . . .

Jorge Arce, who took out Isidro Garcia in the fourth last night, was nowhere to be found, but the man he could be facing next—IBF Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire—was.

Donaire retained his belt with a sixth round stoppage-by-injury over South African challenger Moruti Mthalane.

“Mthalane was a true fighter, and gave me a hell of a fight,” said Donaire. “I’m glad I got in some rounds, and got through some adversity. I made things happen and got a victory out of it—that’s what counts most.”

Promoter Arum said Donaire will be up against either Arce or Fernando Montiel early next year.

. . . .

Also eying a world title shot year is Lamont Peterson, who cruised his way to a ten-round decision over game Lanardo Tyner last night.

“I’m happy to come out with the victory,” said Peterson, who spent engaged in lengthy dialogue with his foe during much of the fight.

“Actually, I started doing the talking,” Peterson admitted. “I told him, ‘You should go ahead and quit.’ He said, ‘”Nah, I can’t do that. I should but I can’t.’

“He just wanted to hang in there and to the rounds, but he was a real tough guy. I hit him with some hard shots and he took them. Later on, he was saying, ‘You hit like a girl,’ but he said what he had to, to get through the fight. I kept doing my job and didn’t get distracted.”

Peterson says he hopes he’ll get a shot at a title some time next year.

. . . .

Opening up the pay-per-view telecast was Russian Olympian Matt Korobov, who stopped his foe in the third.

“It took me a little time to get used to the professional style,” Korobov said. “But I’m happy with my fight tonight. It took some time to figure out my opponent.

“I promise that the next fight will be more exciting.”

Korobov will fight again Dec. 13 in Atlantic City.