Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. overpowers Marcos Reyes in so-so performance

EL PASO - He was bigger and he was stronger and that was that.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. overpowered Marcos Reyes Saturday night, scoring a unanimous decision win in front of 9,245 fans in the Don Haskins Center.

Some cheered, some booed but Chavez Jr., the son of the Mexican legend and the former middleweight champion of the world, proved he can still bring a crowd to El Paso.

Reyes was busier through much of the fight. But his combinations were pitty-pat, barely slowing the bigger Chavez. Chavez, on the other hand, came with measured thunderous lefts and rights. His body shots appeared to slow Reyes at times but never threatened to put him away.

The judges saw this one 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93 - all for Chavez. The El Paso Times scored it 96-93.

Chavez said he hurt his left hand early in the fight and said it might even be broken.

"The guy is a good fighter," Chavez Jr. said. "I hurt my hand. Is it broken? Maybe. I'll see the doctor. I hurt him to the body but I didn't finish him."

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Chavez Jr. pretty much gift-wrapped the first round for Reyes, backpedaling and throwing little. He came on in the second round, forcing the action, throwing strong shots. He landed a low blow and was given a warning but, just before the southern punch, he landed a powerful right hand.

Reyes continued to land combinations, though he clearly never hurt Chavez. Through six rounds, this fight was even. But Chavez dominated the seventh and clearly won the eighth.

Reyes was called for a low blow in the ninth and Chavez was given a time out to recover. Referee Guadalupe Garcia did not take a point away but, after much complaining from Chavez during the break, opted to take the point away - without prior warning.

And that sealed the deal for Chavez Jr.

It was scheduled to be a super middleweight duel at 168 pounds. But Chavez came in at 170.8 and Reyes, who normally campaigns at 160, weighed in at 168.4. Chavez Jr. and his camp settled the weight difference with some cash. After rehydrating overnight, Chavez Jr. came in even heavier.

"That was a difference," Reyes (33-3, 24 KOs) said. "He was much bigger. I made weight. He didn't make weight. He was like a light heavyweight in there. But I put up a good fight. And I think I won."

Chavez Jr. (49-2-1, 32 KOs) was working with highly respected trainer Robert Garcia for the first time.

"Tonight was the end of a process for this fight," Garcia said. "Julio did some very good things. He went to the body and he used his jab really well. Hopefully, his cut and his right hand are OK and hopefully we can get back into the gym right away to prepare for his next fight."

Chavez Jr. said, "I felt good in there. I felt like I did some good things. With the injury to my hand, I couldn't put punches together like I wanted to. Reyes is a tough fighter and I expected him to give me his best and he did."

And, in the end, it was a win.

Chavez Jr. grinned and shrugged and said, "I win the fight."

When asked why he thought some of the fans were booing, he laughed and said, "They wanted me to knock him out."

He did not do that. But he was simply too big, too strong on this July Saturday night.

Bill Knight writes for The El Paso Times and may be reached at bknight@elpasotimes.com or on Twitter @BillKnightept