Securing wide scores of 99-87, 99-88, and 98-88, Garcia (24-2, 14 KOs) claimed both the WBO Latino and IBF International lightweight championships. However, these regional titles pale in comparison to the absolute dominance he displayed over Chaves, who entered the ring with an unblemished 22-0 record and 19 stoppages.
This outcome was neither a controversial judges’ call nor the result of a single lucky strike. Eridson sent Chaves to the canvas in round two, scored two more knockdowns in the fifth, and dropped him once more in the ninth. Utilizing his jab to dictate the range, his constant footwork stopped Chaves from planting his feet to deliver his signature power punches.
Matchroom Boxing had high expectations that Chaves was on the verge of a world championship shot. Prior to the bout, he held impressive rankings of No. 2 with the WBO, No. 4 with the IBF, and No. 7 with the WBC. Furthermore, his swift third-round stoppage of Miguel Madueno had secured him his promotional deal. Over the course of ten rounds, those aspirations were completely shattered.
Viewing Garcia as merely a stepping stone to pad Chaves’ record turned out to be a major miscalculation by Chaves’ team and the Matchroom matchmakers.
Eridson was by no means a spent force despite his decision defeat to the highly rated Andres Cortes back in April. He had also secured a split-decision victory over Japanese prospect Taiga Imanaga in December 2025. These tough encounters provided him with invaluable ring experience against technically superior fighters compared to the opposition Chaves had previously encountered.
Prior to his stoppage win over Madueno in Las Vegas, Chaves had compiled a formidable run of knockouts back home in Argentina. Yet, that vaunted punching power became useless once Garcia made sure never to stay stationary in his line of fire.
Instead of effectively trapping his opponent, Chaves resorted to simply chasing him around the ring. He found it difficult to coordinate his footwork against a fellow southpaw, frequently absorbing Garcia’s jab and lead hook. After the initial knockdown dented his self-assurance, he grew far more reluctant to press forward.
“We are not seeing the typical version of Alan Chaves tonight,” noted broadcast analyst Sergio Mora during the telecast.
It is highly likely Chaves had never encountered a foe capable of neutralizing his strength so thoroughly. Eridson made him hesitate prior to launching any offensive, and this hesitation enabled the Dominican fighter to strike first or slip away before Chaves could retaliate.
BiYu Promotions now faces the challenge of finding a prominent lightweight opponent willing to square off against Eridson. At age 32, Garcia has two losses on his record and lacks the box-office draw of the division’s elite stars. At the same time, he is a seasoned lefty who has just dismantled a previously unbeaten contender with high world rankings and Matchroom’s support.
This unique position makes him a valuable test for others, but a risky proposition for any manager. Major promotional companies like Golden Boy, Top Rank, Queensberry, and Matchroom represent rising lightweight prospects whose career trajectories could be severely damaged by the kind of punishment Chaves endured.
“I was aware that the betting lines labeled me the underdog, but I never shared that perspective,” Eridson explained. “I had respect for Chaves due to his undefeated record and his dangerous power, but my faith was in my own abilities and the preparation we did in camp. Right from the opening bell, I felt at ease. My jab was hitting the target, my footwork was sharp, and I could read his moves perfectly. I kept my focus and stuck strictly to our strategy.”
Even after registering the knockdowns, Eridson did not lose his composure. He stuck to his jab, kept moving after every combination, and resisted the temptation to rush for a knockout. Chaves was never given the chance to engage in the toe-to-toe battles required to regain his footing in the match.
While BiYu Promotions hopes to leverage this victory to land a high-profile matchup, defeating Chaves does not immediately put Eridson in line for a title shot against champions like William Zepeda or top prospects like Abdullah Mason.
A more achievable objective would be a fringe contender, a title eliminator, or a highly touted prospect whose team is seeking a rigorous test. Delivering another performance of this caliber would prove that his victory over Chaves marked the beginning of a late-career surge, rather than just a single standout night against a foe unprepared for his style.
This leaves Matchroom with a difficult dilemma. They can choose to avoid Eridson following his victory over Chaves, or match him up against another of their lightweight talents, risking the defeat of another prized prospect.
This single win has not transformed Garcia into an overnight star. Instead, it has turned him into a boxer promoters frequently avoid: a highly skilled threat whose potential to upset plans far outweighs his financial draw.
