Eridson Garcia secured a wide unanimous decision victory over Alan Chaves at the Prudential Center in Newark on Thursday. Garcia floored the previously unbeaten lightweight four times across ten rounds, dealing a major blow to Matchroom Boxing’s developmental plans.
From the opening bell, the 25-year-old Argentinian struggled to adjust to Garcia’s southpaw stance. Chaves entered the bout with a 22-1 record featuring 19 knockouts, but his offensive power was negated entirely. Garcia controlled the distance with absolute composure, repeatedly punishing Chaves with heavy right hooks while digging effective shots into the body. Rather than cutting off the ring or altering his angles, Chaves followed his opponent flat-footed and hesitated before releasing his hands. The sharp contrast in tactical execution produced immediate results in the second round, when Garcia caught Chaves cleanly to score the fight’s opening knockdown.
Garcia’s physical size exacerbated the tactical problems facing Chaves. Looking significantly heavier after rehydrating, the 32-year-old dominated the inside exchanges. Garcia, who improved his professional record to 24-2 with 14 knockouts, dictated every phase of the fight. He almost dropped Chaves again in the fourth round before taking full command in the fifth, forcing Chaves to take a knee before sending him down a second time. In the ninth, a crisp straight left floored Chaves for a fourth time. Referee Albert Earn Brown looked poised to halt the contest, but Chaves survived the remaining time to reach the final bell. Judges scored the bout 99-87, 99-88, and 98-88.
Chaves demonstrated durable courage to survive ten rounds. But the performance proved entirely one-sided.
The defeat disrupts Eddie Hearn’s immediate plans to position Chaves as a lightweight contender. Matchroom had invested considerable effort into developing Chaves as a prospective title contender, yet the gap between prospect and veteran proved insurmountable. Garcia thoroughly exposed Chaves’ fundamental defensive weaknesses and lack of adaptability against southpaw opponents. This outcome raises the stakes for Hearn regarding Cuban star Andy Cruz. Cruz has expressed dissatisfaction with his promotional terms and considered free agency options. With Chaves knocked off course, preserving Cruz within the Matchroom stable becomes essential if the promotion is to retain a top-tier presence in the 135-pound division.
