Monday 23 July 2012

Diego Gabriel Chaves v Ismael El Massoudi

Back in April popular American Paulie Malignaggi went to the Ukraine and scored an upset win by stopping the previously unbeaten Vyacheslav Senchenko to claim the WBA Welterweight title. What many boxing fans (even the hardcore fans) may not have known was that the WBA also had an interim champion at Welterweight, the little known Ismael El Massoudi (36-4, 16). Massoudi had claimed his "title" back in July 2011 by beating French Souleymane M'baye via 12th round TKO when M'baye injured his knee with less than a minute of the bout remaining but hadn't fought since.

Over a year after winning the title El Massoudi went to Argentina and attempted to defend his title for the first time against the fearsome punching Argentinian Diego Gabriel Chaves (21-0, 17). Whilst Chaves hadn't mixed in world level company he was seen as one of Argentina's most promising young stars and had been dubbed "La Joya" (The Jewel).

The unbeaten Argentinian set off from the first bell with nasty intent and banged away at El Massoudi straight from the off intent to make a statement. Whilst the defending champion saw out the first round he had already felt the power of the young and hungry challenger who went straight back to work in the second round. Early in the second round El Massoudi was dropped for the first time and Chaves flirted with a point deduction, or even disqualification for landing a punch on his downed opponent. Although El Massoudi did manage to recover to his feet the damage was already done and it wasn't long until Chaves scored one of the outstanding KO's of the year with a beautiful straight right hand down the pipe.

At just 26 years old Chaves has just thrown his hat into the Welterweight division with a statement that perhaps should have others, such as Kell Brook at least a little bit worried.

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