Chordale Booker returns as a middleweight, dropping and stopping Brian Chaves in four rounds

Chordale Booker sent a message to the middleweight division.

Booker dropped Brian Chaves three times, forcing Chaves to sit in his chair before the start of the fourth round Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Booker improved to 23-1, 11 wins.

Saturday was Booker's first fight at middleweight, after campaigning for several months at junior middleweight. Booker also had a state title belt at 154 pounds.

Paul Guarino, Booker's manager, was pleased with the outing and believes Booker is ready to face world title holders and top contenders at 160 pounds.

“It's time for Chordale to get a big fight — he's earned it,” Guarino told The Ring on Sunday afternoon. “Since he is moving up to middleweight, I believe that opportunity will come now. He is ready to face any world champions. We would also like to explore potential matches with Steven Butler, Lorenzo Simpson, Troy Isley, and others.”

Southpaw Booker, who lives near Stamford, hurt Chaves with a three-punch combination to the head in the second round. After a while, a left to the body landed Chaves. The Argentine fighter hit the count, but was taken down a second time from a straight left to the head. Chaves stood up and went public.

Chaves tried to assert himself early in the third round, landing a hook to the head. Undeterred, Booker then used a back move that made Chaves miss. Moments later, Booker connected with a series of punches to the body. An uppercut to the head, followed by a left cross to the head drops Chaves to the canvas. Chaves hit the count, and luckily the bell rang to end the round, saving him from further punishment.

After the end of the round, referee Ricky Gonzalez checked on Chaves, decided he was in no condition to continue, and called off the fight.

Booker, 30, previously fought on February 3, defeating Greg Vendetti via unanimous decision. Booker was outclassed, came in a pound over the junior middleweight limit, and was stripped of his WBC regional title. It was then that Booker and his team believed the right move was to move up in weight and compete at 160 pounds.

Booker has won his last six fights since his only loss at the hands of undefeated middleweight Austin Williams in April 2022. Williams stopped Booker in the opening round.

Booker, a promising newcomer who finished second at the 2016 US Olympic Trials, has turned to his acquaintance in IBF world welterweight title holder Jaron 'Boots' Ennis to train alongside him in preparation for the fight. Booker traveled to Ennis' hometown of Philadelphia to train with him.

Chavez, who lives in San Miguel, Argentina, falls to 14-5, 5 KO. The 32-year-old has now lost his last four fights, all by knockout.

Earlier, junior welterweight Michael Kimbrel defeated Ian Garcia (3-1-2, 2 KOs) of Springfield, Massachusetts by unanimous decision. All three judges scored Kimbrel 59-55, he reached 6-0, 4 KO.

Kimbrel, who lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, is coached by three-time world champion Chad Dawson.

In another bout, flyweight Angel Gonzalez of Longwood, Florida improved to 14-0, 7 KOs, defeating Houston's Joshua Morales (28-14-4, 10 KOs) by unanimous decision. The scores were 97-93, 97-93, and 98-92 for Gonzalez.

Championship Boxing 2024 card to be promoted by longtime promoter Jimmy Burchfield.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has handled boxing in Southern California and internationally since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. They can be reached at [email protected]

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