Julio César Chávez
Mexico's hero who broke opponents from the body up.
- Born
- July 12, 1962, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico
- Nationality
Mexico- Height
- 171 cm (5′7″)
- Reach
- 173 cm (5′8″)
- Stance
- Orthodox
- Style
- Body-punching swarmer
- Weight
- Super featherweight, Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight
- Active
- 1980–2005
- Status
- Retired · age 64
The record
Professional; Wikipedia infobox figure. IBHOF lists 88 KOs record
The story
ulio César Chávez was born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, in 1962 and turned pro in 1980. Unbeaten at 43-0, he won the WBC super featherweight title in 1984, then added lightweight titles and, in 1989, the WBC light welterweight crown. His 1990 unification fight with Meldrick Taylor was stopped with two seconds left on the clock. He won his first 87 fights, drew with Pernell Whitaker in 1993 and was 89-0-1 before Frankie Randall beat him in 1994. His 1993 win over Greg Haugen drew more than 130,000 fans to Estadio Azteca, and he holds records for the most title fights (37) and title-fight wins (31). He retired in 2005 with a 107-6-2 record.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- WBC super featherweight champion (1984–1987)
- WBA and WBC lightweight champion (1987–1989)
- WBC light welterweight champion (2 reigns, 1989–1996) and IBF (1990–1991)
- Record 37 title fights, 31 title-fight wins, 27 successful defences
- International Boxing Hall of Fame (2011)
- The Ring Fighter of the Year (1990)
- BWAA Fighter of the Year (1987)
Defining fights
- 1987WINvs Edwin Rosario (TKO 11, won WBA lightweight title)
- 1990WINvs Meldrick Taylor (TKO 12, stopped with 2 seconds left)
- 1993WINvs Greg Haugen (TKO 5, Estadio Azteca)
- 1993DRAWvs Pernell Whitaker (MD 12, WBC welterweight title)
- 1994LOSSvs Frankie Randall (SD 12, first career loss)
Invest in the body: Chávez's left hook and relentless body attack broke down faster opponents over 12 rounds. Drill hooks to the liver while stepping in, and keep touching the body even when the head shots are not landing.
