“A great fighter. We’ll have to keep a close eye on him,” said Valcarcel on X.
Chaves already owns the WBO Latino lightweight title and entered the bout rated #3 by the sanctioning body. Public praise after a performance like that only helps his standing.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was equally enthusiastic afterward and said the performance confirmed what he had been hearing about Chaves.
“I thought he was sensational, amazing. A lot of people have been telling me a lot about him,” said Hearn to the media about Chaves. “He never fought outside of Argentina, so you never really know if the hype is real. What we saw tonight was a huge puncher, but also a smart fighter. He’s someone with a good IQ. Yes, speed and a brain. He set the shot up perfectly.”
Madueno had gone rounds with recognized opposition and was viewed as a sturdy test for a fighter making his U.S. debut. Instead, Chaves ended matters early with one clean left hand that changed the tone of the night.
“He’s a very durable guy, and Chaves destroyed him. I think he’s going to be a big, big star,” said Hearn.
Being ranked #2 by the WBO could prove more valuable for Chaves than any public callout. If Shakur Stevenson moves fully to 140, the WBO lightweight title picture may open quickly, placing Chaves in a strong lane.
He does not need names such as Stevenson or Gervonta Davis to agree to a fight if he keeps winning and protects his ranking. Sanctioning bodies regularly move contenders into eliminators or vacant-title fights when champions leave divisions or go in other directions.
The lightweight division is crowded, but Chaves may not need to chase anyone. If he stays active, the title route could come to him.
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