The first Mayweather contest in 1985 and Rocky Lockridge in 1986 were wins over former lineal champions at worst among the top five in the class. Martinez, for the first title, represented a quality step up as did his first title defense against a Ruben Castillo still considered among the best Featherweights in the world. It got a lot better, and when Chavez faced his competition speaks highly of mostly strong matchmaking. They weren’t all bad of course, former title challenger Ernesto Herrera and an Adriano Arreola who would go on to stop former titlist Lupe Pintor both bested along the way. Most of the fighters who would have fit that description came in Chavez’s development period, the first 43 contests leading to a title shot at 130. Prior to his 1993 showdown with Chavez, Greg Haugen referred to a mass of “Tijuana cab drivers” on Chavez’s record. The attempt fell short, Chavez outboxed only to receive a dubious and still despicable draw to protect his undefeated (if no longer unblemished) mark. Welterweight reign still ongoing, his record an astounding 87-0, Chavez moved up yet again in September 1993, challenging long time pound-for-pound rival Pernell Whitaker for Whitaker’s WBC and lineal Welterweight crown. The Taylor win would bring him near universal recognition as the real champion, wide acclaim as boxing’s pound-for-pound king, and the IBF belt, abandoned later in 1990 during a feud between his promoter, Don King, and the IBF.

Lightweight and the beginning of a long tenure atop 140 lbs. It was the second win over Mayweather after an earlier knockout win at Jr. Welterweight titlist Roger Mayweather (famous today as the trainer and uncle of Floyd Mayweather) to quit on his stool, a retirement in ten. In May 1989, Chavez moved yet another five pounds up and forced WBC Jr.

With the win, Chavez stood out to most as the genuine Lightweight king. Three non-title wins and a single title defense led to an October 1988 all-Mexican unification showdown with former training mate and WBC titlist Jose Luis Ramirez, Chavez winning via decision when the bout was stopped for an accidental cut to Ramirez following the eleventh round. Chavez would defend the belt nine times in a span of twelve contests total before moving five pounds up the scale.Ĭhavez had stretched his mark to 56-0 when he moved five pounds up the scale in November 1987 to challenge for the WBA Lightweight title held by Edwin Rosario, winning a thrilling war with a stoppage of the future Hall of Famer in the eleventh. title, an eighth round stoppage of perennial bridesmaid Mario Martinez beginning Chavez’s championship days. It has since been officially confirmed as a win, one of 43 on the road to a September 1984 shot at the vacant WBC 130 lb. While the Mexican Commission today officially recognizes the Macontest between Chavez and Miguel Ruiz as a first round knockout, as late as a 1986 contest against Rocky Lockridge, NBC was reporting that same commission as still referring to the fight as a disqualification loss for Chavez. Turned pro at only seventeen years of age, Chavez reeled off a lengthy series of wins to work towards his first title opportunity, though how long is still worthy of debate. 11 Sammy Fuentes – RTD10 Meldrick Taylor – TKO12, TKO8 Hector Camacho – UD12 Greg Haugen – TKO5 Tony Lopez – TKO10 Giovanni Parisi – UD12 Joey Gamache – TKO8 Miguel Angel Gonzalez – D12 Ivan Robinson – UD10) Current/Former Alphabet Titlists Defeated or Drawn: 12 (Juan La Porte – UD12 Edwin Rosario – TKO11 Jose Luis Ramirez – Tech.

Julio cesar chavez vs edwin rosario