New Mexico Boxing

Jackie’s back
Superbantam prospect Jackie Chavez plans a busy year after a long layoff

by Chris Cozzone

Jackie Chavez was just beginning her climb up the ladder when she took a break from boxing. She was 5-0 (3 KOs) and on the edge of a top ten rating after edging Raquel Tebo in August, 2002 in a four-round decision.

Then, she disappeared.

“I had a lot going on,” says Chavez, who, at the time, was enrolled in school to study physical therapy. “I was trying to get it all together. But now it’s time to take a bit off school so I can figure out what it is I really want to do.”

At the end of last year, Chavez resurfaced at the Sanchez gym where she began reconditioning herself under trainer/uncle Ray Sanchez, Jr. After a rough couple months, she was ready to return to the ring.

“I was a little nervous in that fight,” Chavez admits.

Despite a bit of ring rust, Chavez outhustled a very game Leanne Villareal in three of four rounds for the unanimous.

“I was too cautious and should’ve been more aggressive. I could’ve landed a lot more punches and I was standing up a lot, not following through with my punches. Overall, I was happy with my performance, despite bleeding all over the place.”

In the second round, Chavez’s nose was seeping blood.

“I was able to get through it and focus on the fight,” she says.

After a week off, Chavez was back in the gym, preparing for her next fight by sparring with Yvonne Chavez, Holly Holm and top amateur boxer Archie Ray Marquez.

“With their help, I’m getting where I want to be, even if I still feel a little rusty right now, a little bit slow.”

Chavez is going to have to be in top form Saturday night if she wants to keep her record clean of losses.

In her first six-rounder, she’ll be taking on her toughest opponent yet—Mercedes Mercury of Denver, Colo.

“She’s tough,” says Chavez. “She moves a lot—in and out—so I may have to move to my left a lot more, not straight back.”

At 3-3, the southpaw Mercury has been in against tougher opponents than Chavez, and is on a three-fight winning streak.

“These are the kinds of opponents I need to fight. My number one goal is not just to win fight but to improve. You can win a fight with just one punch, like what happened in my pro debut, but my goal is to beat someone who’s skillful, and knows what they’re doing. Like Mercury.”

Chavez is ranked as high as #3 in the IFBA, which means a title shot may be on the horizon should she get by Mercury.

“A world title would be great, but more than that, it’s more important for me to prove to myself that I have the skills to be a boxer instead of just a kickboxer. Right now, it’s about proving to myself.”

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Chavez is one of eight bouts scheduled for Saturday night’s ‘Pride of Albuquerque card at the Convention Center. Ray Sanchez III, Holly Holm, Diego Sanchez, Hector Munoz, Dan Christison, Carlos Condit and Joey Brixx are also scheduled to fight.

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