Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. retained his WBC middleweight title with a spirited stoppage win in the 7th over Irish contender Andy Lee at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Chavez Jr. (46-0-1, 32 KOs), 26, started slowly against the classy, 28-year-old Lee (28-2, 20 KOs), Lee, a 2004 Irish Olympian whose amateur pedigree and experience was evident as he cleanly out-boxed Chavez Jr. over the first couple of rounds.

Lee was unable to control the center of the ring as Chavez Jr. was too strong. And it was in the seventh round, Chavez Jr. landed a devastating uppercut, and his follow up barrage was clinical.

Lee’s credibility was never in question, which makes Chavez Jr.’s performance that bit more impressive.

Well done Andy Lee, you will shine again.