HitHard
Joined: 25 Oct 2005
Posts: 6427
Location: Hitchin, Hertfordshire
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| Posted: April 29 2007, 13:02 PM Post subject: Julio Cesar Chavez - The Lion of Culiacan |
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As many of you know Dadgad and I are suckers for the golden age of boxing when everything appears in black and white newsreels, however, we are united in our views that the "Lion of Culiacan" makes both our P4P top ten of all time. Here is my view of the great man.
Julio Cesar Chavez (108-6-2 87 KO) ū "The Lion of Culiacan" lost his last fight against Grover Wiley over a year ago due to a fractured hand. To some extent this has tarnished his legacy, however, it hasn't to me.
ChavezĘs accomplishments are phenomenal; for me he is the greatest fighter Mexico has ever produced. No mean feat considering the wealth of talent this country produces. His 32 wins in championship fights is a ring record, in fact, his 32-4-2 mark in title bouts would be a decent career record these days.
ItĘs not often that a fighter can be ranked among the very best in two weight classes, but Chavez can say that of his reigns at 130 and especially at 140. He defended his WBC super featherweight title nine times against the likes of Rocky Lockridge (W 12), Juan LaPorte (W 12 in a decision some dispute), Roger Mayweather (KO 2) and Ruben Castillo (KO 6) before hammering Edwin Rosario to win the WBA lightweight belt in a career-best effort. He only stayed at 135 for two defences, but before he departed he unified the WBA and WBC titles with an 11-round technical decision over friend and sparring partner Jose Luis Ramirez.
Chavez was slightly past his best form by the time he wore down Mayweather in 10 rounds to win the WBC super lightweight title in May 1989, yet he was able to notch 16 defences over two reigns and unified the WBC and IBF belts with his unforgettable last-second stoppage of Meldrick Taylor. "The Lion" won his first 87 fights, and there was serious talk among historians that he could have unseated Sugar Ray Robinson as the consensus pound-for-pound greatest if he had retired with a 100-0 record. Alas, it was not to be.
Chavez failed in two attempts to win his fourth divisional title against welterweights Pernell Whitaker (D 12) and Oscar De La Hoya. However, his fistic erosion has been a long, slow process that has been difficult to watch at times. However, his place in history (and his plaque in Canastota) are secure. |
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