Julio Chávez: Boxing
Julio Cesar Chavez Gonzales (born: July 12, 1962) is a retired Mexican boxer. He’s a six time world champion in three divisions for so many years that he became one of Mexico’s most popular sports figures and the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. He is considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Greatest Sporting Achievements
In his 25 career years, Chavez managed to win the WBC Super Featherweight in 1984, the WBA Lightweight in 1987 and 1988, and the WBC Light Welterweight in 1989, 1990 and 1994. He is record-breaking with over 27 world titles, 31 title fight victories, 37 title fights and 21 title defenses win by knockout. Julio Cesar Chavez is known to be the longest undefeated streak in boxing history (13 years). He also holds the record for the largest attendance for a boxing match with over 132,000 audiences at the Estadio Azteca against Greg Haugen in 1993. For all of his efforts and exceptional performance in boxing, he is ranked #24 on ESPN’s “50 Greatest Boxers of All Time”.
Why Was He So Good?
Chavez is known for his exceptional punches, destructive body attack, indomitable spirit, extraordinarily sturdy chin and his ruthless stalking on his opponents.
What You May Not Know
- Chavez was born in a poor family that he became a boxer to earn money. At the age of sixteen, he was already a boxing amateur. He moved to another city to pursue a career in boxing a few years later.
- His first loss was to Frankie Randall, breaking his 87 fight win streak. Randall knocked him down for the first time in his entire career and went on to a split decision and lost his title to Randall. He blamed the referee for his loss.
- Chavez continued to challenge other titleholders after “retiring”. He kept getting in and out of the ring to “avenge his losses”. When he suffered a TKO loss to Grover Wiley during his 115th career bout, he stated that he was retiring for good. His defeat was, 2 years later, avenged by his son, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. who knocked Wiley out during the third round of their fight.
Related Pages
- More Boxer Profiles
- About Boxing
- Athlete Database home
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