by Suge Green | Sun. June 27, 2010

The world class reputation of trainer Freddie Roach remained intact Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, when the hands of both of his fighters were raised by the referee at the conclusion of their respective bouts on Top Rank's Latin Fury 15 Pay-Per-View.

Jose Benavidez made short work of Josh Beeman, defeating him by way of first round knockout in their scheduled four-rounder. It's becoming common knowledge that Benavidez, 2009's National Golden Gloves Champion, has Roach more excited than any other prospect currently training out of his Wild Card Gym. The 18-year-old, 5-foot-11-inch light welterweight improves to 7-0, with all of his wins coming by way of knockout.

Much like interest rates fluctuate depending on what was said in the most recent statements made by the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, boxing odds change when Roach speaks.

When Roach recently told ONTHEGRiND BOXiNG that he wished he had a tune-up fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. before he his date with Ireland's John Duddy, boxing insiders took note. Some wondered if Roach was setting the public up for the fall. After all, winning Trainer of the Year honors multiple times doesn't make one a miracle worker. Does it?

Chavez Jr. is lazy, he's not focused on boxing and he doesn't take his conditioning seriously. These are the kind of statements that were usually made about the man who is more known for being the son of a legend, than for possessing his own long - undefeated record (40-0 going into the Alamadome). Following his five weeks of training under Roach though, Chavez may finally have began shedding his former reputation, and the 12 round slug-fest with Duddy may have been just what he needed to create a brand new one.

Chavez Jr. slipped punches and he circled at times, at others he walked the man from Derry, Ireland back and treated viewers of Latin Fury 15 to the type of war that will secure the battle a place in San Antonio boxing history. Chavez Jr. showed a quick jab when he used it, and brought a hard-fast overhand right, along with a menacing hook that found it's mark on more than one occasion.

Questions were answered as well about the Mexican's ablity to take clean stiff punches from a fighter at the world level. Duddy may not have landed with enough frequency to earn him the judges nod, but he did land cleanly enough to prove to the world Chavez Jr. has respectable punch resistance.

As for long-standing questions about the Culiacan, Mexico native's stamina? He went 12 hard rounds for the first time in his career, and looked better than ever earning the unanimous decision.

As impressive as Chavez Jr. was, the road before him is still long if he intends to achieve a fraction of the greatness that the man who's name he shares achieved. With the new WBC Silver Middleweight Championship around his waist, Chavez' stock is set to go up immediately in at least one of the sanctioning bodies.

As appealing as a middleweight world title would be to Chavez Jr., Bob Arum, the man behind Top Rank may have different plans entirely.

Arum gleefully shared that putting Chavez Jr. in the ring with Miguel Cotto for Cotto's Jr. Middleweight Championship is a future possibility.

Chavez Jr. improves to 41(30)-0-1, and Arum says there are several options available for the man who he feels became a star at the Alamodome.

Duddy drops to 29(18)-2. It's not quite time to call it a day on "The Derry Destroyer's" career just yet. In the post-fight interview, Arum mention Yuri Foreman as a future opponent for Duddy in a fight to be staged at Madison Square Garden.

Rounding out the card...
Marco Antonio Barrera UD10 Adailton De Jesus
Raul Martinez TKO7 Gabriel Elizondo
Tomas Villa UD8 Salvador Sanchez
Jose Juan Fuentes TKO5 Rogelio Barron
Emanuel Ledezma UD4 Nelson Ramos
James Cantu UD4 Antonio Gamez
Omar Henry UD4 Hilario Lopez