Born in July of 1962 in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, the previous world champion Julio ‘J.C’ Chavez grew up poor, watching his mother work so laborious. They lived in a prepare automotive. He promised his mom he would get her out of there. He lived with eleven others.
Chavez adopted his brothers into boxing. At 17 in March of 1980, he made his debut and had his loss reversed. He packed up his stuff and moved away.
He was comparatively unknown till he moved out of Mexico to battle. In September of 1984, with a 43-0 file (like Rocky Marciano), he gained his first world title towards WBC Tremendous Featherweight champion Mario Martinez, 33-1-2, on the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. He broke the champion down, stopping him within the eighth spherical.
In April of 1985, he defended his title towards Ruben Castillo, 60-4-2, on the Inglewood Discussion board in L.A., stopping him in six rounds.
In August of 1986, he gained a majority resolution over Rocky Lockridge, 34-4. Then, he defeated Juan LaPorte, 27-6, along with his showings not what they as soon as had been.
In November of 1987, he defeated the WBC Light-weight champ Edwin ‘Chapo’ Rosario, 31-2, in Las Vegas, Nevada, scoring a stoppage within the eleventh spherical. When the lights went out, he went again to the bottle.
In October of 1988, he defeated WBA champ Jose Luis ‘El Zurdo” Ramirez, 101-6, profitable a technical resolution within the eleventh spherical.
Subsequent a rematch with Roger “Black Mamba” Mayweather, 34-5, identified for his wins over Mexicans, in Inglewood Discussion board, L.A., stopping him within the tenth spherical.
In September of 1990 in Las Vegas, Nevada, when he fought former Olympic Gold Medalist Meldrick Taylor, 24-0-1, within the remaining spherical whereas properly behind on factors, he scored a stoppage with two seconds remaining when referee Richard Steele seeing Taylor’s coach Lou Duva developing the steps and waved it off.
In September of 1992, he fought Hector ‘Macho” Camacho, 40-1, in Las Vegas, Nevada, defeating him in twelve rounds.
In February of 1993, earlier than nearly 136,000 packed the stadium in Mexico Metropolis, stopping Greg Haugen, 31-4. The ambiance was electrical, stopping him in 5 rounds.
He was at all times within the gymnasium, even earlier than he turned to alcohol. He would spar ten rounds a day.
Within the shadows, away from the followers, alcohol was changed by cocaine. His sparring grew to become harder. He would sneak the medicine into the gymnasium in his gymnasium bag.
In entrance of his followers and interviews, he would slur his phrases. In search of medicine undercover was tough, being who he was. His success coated up his issues. He lastly had a wake-up name in rehab. He was within the battle of his life and, weeks later, again on medicine. He instructed his household and pals he would beat it however couldn’t.
Simply when he was prepared to surrender, he lastly beat his dependancy. He began opening up full therapy applications to assist others who had been addicted.
Within the early 2000’s he would discuss his dependancy and troubles to beat it.
In speaking about dependancy, he made it public, in contrast to different athletes. In sharing, he mentioned, “I wish to assist others like the assistance I obtained!”
His each day battle wasn’t within the ring however within the bottle after which medicine.
It was evident in September of 1993, when he fought Pernell “Candy Pea” Whitaker, 32-1, to a majority draw, in San Antonio, Texas, figuring out he obtained a present towards this slick boxer the followers began to note he wasn’t the boxer he as soon as was.
In January of 1994, Frankie “The Surgeon” Randall, 48-2-1, was penalized for low blows within the seventh and eleventh rounds earlier than getting dropped for the very first time within the eleventh spherical. He misplaced the cut up resolution. At 89-0-1, he was lastly overwhelmed. Within the rematch 4 months later, a head butt within the eighth spherical induced a critical reduce and was awarded a controversial technical resolution with the scores being cut up.
Subsequent, in a rematch with Meldrick Taylor, 32-3-1, he stopped him in eight rounds in Las Vegas. He gained his subsequent 5 fights earlier than assembly Olympic Gold Medalist Oscar “Golden Boy” De La Hoya, 21-0, in Las Vegas and was given a boxing lesson and suffered a reduce dropping the battle within the fourth spherical.
He would go 4-0-1, drawing with Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 42-1, in Mexico Metropolis, earlier than the rematch with De La Hoya. Once more, Chavez was stopped within the eighth spherical in Las Vegas and was by no means the unstoppable warrior the followers admired.
By the late 1990’s it was throughout for Chavez, dropping to Willie Smart, 23-6-4, in Las Vegas. Two fights later, in July of 200, he would lose once more, this time to Kostya Tszyu, 24-1, in Phoenix, Arizona.
Two fights later, in a rematch in November with Willie Smart, 26-10-4, he gained by a stoppage in two rounds. In Could of 2004, he gained a rematch with Frankie ‘The Surgeon’ Randall, 58-14-1, in Mexico Metropolis.
Two fights later, in Could of 2005, he defeated Ivan Robinson, 32-9-2, in L.A, which might be his remaining win. Subsequent, in his final battle in September, he misplaced to Grover Wiley, 29-6-1, being stopped in 5 rounds, in Phoenix, Arizona, ending his profession with a 107-6-2, with 85 knockouts file.
Chavez earned over 100 million, however spending cash on alcohol, medicine, and dangerous investments, he misplaced most of it.
Years have induced him to have psychological issues with melancholy. As soon as surrounded by many, he discovered himself alone greater than not. He watched his son Julio, Jr., 54-6-1, grow to be WBC Middleweight champ, however he failed a drug check for a second time. His different son Omar turned to field presently with a 41-9-1 file. Chavez turned a foul relationship with them over time into a great one.
Chavez discovered the Julio Cesar Chavez Medical Middle, sharing with others his issues and the way he and so they might overcome this dependancy in Mexico. His followers heard how he overcame his monetary and household issues.
That concludes the profession of one among Mexico’s most interesting, if not greatest, boxers ever.
Final Up to date on 02/09/2025