After 12 grueling rounds, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. proved to be a chip off the old block, rallying in the middle and late rounds, after getting behind early, to win a majority decision over former champion Sebastian Zbik. Using a sustained attack to the body, featuring a devastating left hook reminiscent of his father, Chavez Jr. wore down a very game Zbik to capture his first world title. Relive all the action in FightHype's in-depth, round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Zbik comes out firing his jab. Chavez Jr. is patient as he keeps a high guard. Zbik lands a right. Chavez digs a left hook to the body. Hard right hand over the top lands for Zbik. Left hook lands for Zbik. Quick 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez works the body on the inside. Zbik lands a couple of hooks to the body and a 1-2 upstairs. Right hand lands for Chavez. Nice four-punch combo lands for Zbik. Chavez answers with two hard shots of his own. Round to Zbik.
Zbik 10 Chavez Jr. 9
ROUND 2
Zbik still keeping that jab in the face of Chavez. Nice right lands for Chavez. Zbik landing a lot of quick combos. Chavez getting outworked in there. Nice right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a left hook to the body. Zbik just pasting the face of Chavez with his jab. Chavez backing up as though he's looking to counter. Chavez works the body. Zbik lands a right hand over the top. Chavez lands a low blow. Both men trading shots on the inside. Nice 1-2 to the body lands for Chavez. Right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Another one from Zbik snaps the head back of Chavez. 1-2 to the body lands for Chavez, but he eats a 1-2 in return. Round to Zbik.
Zbik 20 Chavez Jr. 18
ROUND 3
Left hook lands for Zbik. Nice 1-2 lands upstairs for Zbik. Chavez digs a hard left hook to the body. Right hand from Zbik backs Chavez up. Another nice right hand from Zbik catches Chavez flush on the jaw. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Left hook to the body lands for Chavez. WOOOOO....NICE 1-2 from Zbik snaps the head back of Chavez, who smiles and invites him in to brawl. Uppercut lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a hard 1-2 to the body. Nice three-punch combo lands for Zbik. Another perfect 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez lands a hook. Round to Zbik.
Zbik 30 Chavez Jr. 27
ROUND 4
"You can't stand in front of him," Roach would tell Chavez in the corner. Nice right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Double left hook lands for Zbik. Chavez lands an uppercut. They trade on the inside. Zbik just pumping that jab in Chavez's face. Nice uppercuts land for Chavez. Zbik gets in a right upstairs. Another right hand lands for Zbik. Chavez continues to back up as the lighter-hitting Zbik walks him down. Right cross lands for Zbik. Chavez gets in a left to the body. Four-punch combo lands for Zbik. Chavez just getting outworked. Uppercut and 1-2 to the body lands for Chavez. Two right hands down the middle land for Zbik. 1-2 to the body lands for Chavez. Round to Zbik.
Zbik 40 Chavez Jr. 36
ROUND 5
1-2 lands for Zbik. Body shots and an uppercut land for Chavez. Short left hook lands for Zbik. They trade body shots. Right lands for Zbik. Left to the body and a right lands for Chavez. 1-2 from Zbik. Two uppercuts from Chavez. Right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. They trade hard body shots. Right hook from Zbik marks Chavez up by his eye. Chavez digs a couple more hooks to the body. Zbik just landing 2-3 punches to everyone 1 that Chavez throws. Nice right hand lands for Chavez to end the round. Better round for Chavez.
Zbik 49 Chavez Jr. 46
ROUND 6
Both men trading on the inside. Chavez landing some uppercuts and nice hooks to the body. Zbik looks like he's slowing down a bit. Some more uppercuts land for Chavez. Left to the body and a right upstairs lands for Chavez. Another nice right lands for Chavez. Zbik wearing down a lot. Left hand lands for Zbik. Right hand from Chavez catches Zbik pulling back. Two right hands land for Zbik. 1-2 lands for Chavez. Right hand lands for Chavez. Round to Chavez.
Zbik 58 Chavez Jr. 56
ROUND 7
Right hand lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a 1-2 to the body. Nice left hook to the body lands for Chavez. Uppercut lands for Chavez. Right upstairs and a left to the body lands for Zbik. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez digs another 1-2 to the body. They trade on the inside. Chavez landing the better shots. Zbik gets in a nice right. Nice three-punch combo lands for Zbik. Chavez lands a HARD right hand that appears to wobble Zbik. Chavez lets his hands go and lands a HARD body shot. Zbik fires back. Another nice combination lands for Chavez to end the round. Round to Chavez.
Zbik 67 Chavez Jr. 66
ROUND 8
1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez walking Zbik down. Right hand lands for Chavez. 1-2 lands for Zbik again. Uppercut lands for Zbik. A couple of body shots land for Chavez. Right hand and a left hook lands for Zbik. Quick three-punch combo lands for Zbik. HARD left hook to teh body lands for Chavez. Right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Another right down the middle lands for Zbik. Again...right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Nice uppercut lands for Chavez. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a left to the body. Close round, but I give it to Zbik for outworking him.
Zbik 77 Chavez Jr. 75
ROUND 9
Right hand lands for Zbik. Left hook lands for Zbik. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Right hand lands for Zbik again. Chavez backs him up to the ropes. Hard right hand lands for Chavez. Zbik lands a right down the middle. Uppercut lands for Zbik. Quick 1-2 lands for Zbik. Another right lands for Zbik. Chavez not throwing much so far. Quick right lands for Zbik. Nice right lands for Zbik. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez lands a right. Another 1-2 lands for Zbik. Right hand down the middle lands for Zbik. Round to Zbik.
Zbik 87 Chavez Jr. 84
ROUND 10
Chavez turns up the heat more now as he digs in some nice body shots. A couple of nice left hooks to the body land for Chavez Jr. They trade on the inside. Zbik lands a couple of right hands upstairs. Uppercut lands for Chavez. Zbik lands an uppercut. Chavez lands his own uppercut, but Zbik fires off a four-punch combo that backs him up. Again, Zbik is landing 2-3 punches to everyone 1 of Chavez's. Nice left hand lands for Zbik. 1-2 to the body lands for Chavez and Zbik retreats. Another right to the body and a right upstairs lands for Chavez. Another nice body shot lands for Chavez. Close round, but I give it to Chavez for landing the more telling shots.
Zbik 96 Chavez Jr. 94
ROUND 11
1-2 to the body lands for Chavez. Uppercut lands for Chavez. Zbik on the retreat. Chavez bulls foward and continues to work the body. Zbik not liking those body shots at all. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a couple more hard body shots that has Zbik in pain. Zbik complains of a low blow, but the action continues. Chavez continues to work the body of Zbik, who's taking deep breaths. Chavez continues to kill the body. Zbik just covers up. HARD four-punch combo lands for Chavez. 1-2 lands for Zbik. Round to Chavez.
Zbik 105 Chavez Jr. 104
ROUND 12
Right hand lands for Zbik. Chavez bulls forward and digs to the body. Quick three-punch combo lands for Zbik. Chavez digs a left to the body. Both men trade a flurry of shots in the corner. Chavez lands a couple of low blows. Zbik lands a couple of shots upstairs. Both men letting their hands go in this final round. They continue throw, but it's Chavez who is getting the upper hand. Zbik lands a quick combo upstairs. Chavez lands a quick combo downstairs. Round to Chavez.
Zbik 114 Chavez Jr. 114
Harold Lederman scored the bout 116-112 for Chavez Jr.
Official scorecards: 114-114, 115-113, 116-112
THE WINNER BY MAJORITY DECISION...AND NEW WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD...JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.
COMPUBOX
Zbik total punches: 391/834
Chavez Jr. total punches: 256/796
Zbik power punches: 335/623
Chavez Jr. power punches: 242/724
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