Mohave Daily News: Nation

AP Sports Writer

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Julio Cesar Chavez looked every bit as good as his old man, stopping Ray Sanchez in the sixth round of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight fight Saturday night.

Chavez (34-0-1, 27 KOs), the son of the heralded Mexican champion, notched the biggest win of his young career, driving Sanchez (20-2) into the ropes midway through the sixth and launching a flurry of shots to the head.

Sanchez dropped to his knees, then couldn't answer after the count at 1:33 of the round, sending Mexican fans into a frenzy in Sanchez's hometown arena.

The left-handed Sanchez was touted as the hardest puncher Chavez has faced. But with his father watching from a ringside seat, Chavez held his own and answered each shot.

It was a real punchout from the first bell, an entertaining show for 6,077 fans at Tingley Coliseum and an international pay-per-view audience.

The fighters weren't afraid to go toe-to-toe from the start, trading jabs and each looking to set up a power punch. Each landed plenty of shots, but Chavez withstood the barrage and delivered his own.

When Chavez launched his final attack it was clear Sanchez was running low then had nothing left.

The fight was billed as the toughest test for either boxer and a breakout opportunity that promised to lead to bigger bouts for the winner.

The 21-year-old Chavez entered the ring accompanied by his father, and each member of the Mexicans' entourage wore a red bandanna with ‘‘J.C. Chavez Jr.'' printed in white letters.

Sanchez was welcomed moments later by loud Albuquerque fans, but Chavez had his share of supporters, too. In fact, boisterous chants of ‘‘Sanchez! Sanchez!'' eventually blended with ‘‘Chavez! Chavez!''