It might show to be the primary of many; many world titles gained, and lots of world title fights fought. It was 40 years in the past right this moment when a 22 12 months outdated Julio Cesar Chavez claimed his very first world title.
Having been a professional since February of 1980, Chavez having gone professional at age 17, the longer term king of kings was 43-0 when he confronted countryman Mario Martinez on the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Martinez, who had gone professional at a good youthful age, at a mere 16, was 33-1-2, and he was now simply 19 years outdated. The 2 would battle for the vacant WBC super-featherweight crown.
Collectively, these two Mexican warriors thrilled followers with a show of continuous, toe-to-toe warfare. Martinez managed to hold robust with Julio……for some time. In direction of the top of spherical eight, Chavez lastly broke his man down, having pounded away with lefts and rights. A bloodied Martinez was saved by the referee and Chavez was the brand new WBC champion at 130 kilos.
A minimum of a fairly staggering 36 additional world title fights would come, with Chavez successful 30 of them. Chavez, for a while wanting like an unstoppable pressure, an unbeatable combating machine, would go on to win world titles up at light-weight and light-welterweight, with “El Gran Campeon” arising brief in an try at successful the world welterweight title.
A savage physique puncher in addition to an outstanding inside fighter, Chavez had a veritable rock for a chin, seemingly limitless stamina, an unquenchable zest for fight, and, happily for him and his many tens of millions of followers, quite a few high quality dance companions who introduced out his full greatness.
Followers will lengthy bear in mind Chavez’s epics with Meldrick Taylor (this maybe Julio’s best second), Edwin Rosario, Hector Camacho, Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Pernell Whitaker (this one of the crucial controversially scored fights of all-time), Frankie Randall, and Oscar De La Hoya.
For a time, it actually did look as if Chavez, who had, when he was on the peak of his powers, set himself the lofty aim of reaching a jaw-dropping 100-0, may by no means lose. As a substitute, large underdog Randall shocked the world in January of 1994, dropping the iron-chinned legend on the best way to a cut up determination win; this three fights after Chavez had escaped with a draw within the Whitaker battle.
However Chavez had remained unbeaten for 14 years, throughout which era he had amassed a tremendous 89-0-1 report. Think about if Chavez had retired after the massive win over Taylor, this at 69-0. How would Chavez be checked out right this moment? Followers and historians have a good time Rocky Marciano’s excellent 49-0 ledger, and with good purpose. How a lot would followers and boxing specialists recognize Chavez had he walked away at a spotless 69-0? However in fact, Chavez was not going to retire after the sensational win over Taylor. Now a real international star, Chavez was additionally smack bang at his best. At age 27, Chavez was now incomes the large bucks. It had taken a very long time (Chavez was paid $300,000 for the Martinez battle), and now Julio needed to tug within the form of cash his good combating abilities deserved.
After scoring the form of you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it, last-second KO win over Taylor, who was forward on factors on the time, Chavez moved on to defeat good males corresponding to Lonnie Smith, Camacho, Haugen, and Terrence Ali earlier than Chavez fell foul of “Candy Pea’s” bag of boxing tips. How a lot had the Taylor battle taken out of Chavez (and out of Taylor, for that matter)?
No man can keep on prime eternally, and Chavez, at age 31 within the Randall battle, was lastly overwhelmed. It had taken 90 combating males over the course of 14 lengthy years.
In his prime, Chavez was an virtually flawless wrecking machine of a fighter. A rival ran the very actual threat of by no means, ever being the identical once more after entering into a hoop with Julio. Chavez was particular, very particular. As was his reign on the prime of boxing. A reign that started 40 years in the past right this moment.
Viva Julio!
