CHRIS JOHN MAKES US DEBUT AGAINST THE CAPABLE ROCKY JUAREZ
Chris John
By Jim Amato
Amato Boxing
Indonesia’s Chris John is an undefeated world champion. He has held that status since 2003. Still he is hardly ever mentioned in boxing columns or wire reports. I’ve never seen him on anybody’s pound for pound rating lists. He has boxed professionally for a decade now but he had become an invisible champion.
Tonight in Houston as the co-feature to the Juan Manuel Marquez – Juan Diaz fight, John will meet rugged former title challenger Rocky Juarez (28-4) with 20 KO’s. Chris will carry a 42-0-1 ledger into the ring with him to defend his WBA title. This should cause some excitement here in the US.John has won a couple of major fights at the international level. His signature win was a decision over the highly regarded Juan Manuel Marquez in 2006. Marquez had two points deducted in that bout for low blows but if he was given those points back he still would have lost the verdict.In the eyes of many John won in convincing fashion. Nevertheless several boxing experts considered the loss a fluke. Some even called it robbery. In the meantime Marquez went on to have high profile fights with Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez and Manny Pacquiao.Chris John has received very little reward or respect for that victory. Somehow that just does not seem quite fair.
The only mar on John’s record is a 2004 technical draw with Jose Rojas due to a clash of heads. John outpointed Rojas in a 2007 rematch. In 2005 John got off the floor in the first round and then went on to win a comfortable decision over Derrick Gainer. Later that year John was impressive in halting Australia’s talented Tommy Browne. I’ve seen some footage of Chris John and I must say that I was highly impressed. He is 5′ 7-1/2 ” with a 65 ” reach. He is very quick with his hands and feet. He can be aggressive too. Sometimes actually swarming over his opponents. He can also bang a bit. He has 22 knockouts. In some of the footage I watched he just wasted a couple of his foes.
Rocky Juarez is no stranger to TV audiences. All four of his career losses have come in attempts to win a piece of the featherweight or super featherweight titles. He was defeated by Humberto Soto, Marco Antonio Barrera (twice) and Marquez. Rocky’s first fight with Barrera was extremely close but Barrera dominated the rematch. Rocky’s decision loss to Marquez was even more lopsided. This more then likely will be the last title attempt for Juarez.
I believe John is the quicker fighter and the better boxer. Juarez though may be the hardest puncher in his weight class. Look for Rocky to test the chin of Chris John. If John can absorb Rocky’s best then I see John winning a comfortable points verdict.
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