SPORTSCLOPEDIA 64: JULY 7, 1985 - JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ STOPS ROGER MAYWEATHER
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 07 Jul 2023
July 7, 1985 – Julio Cesar Chavez stopped Roger Mayweather in the second round to retain his WBC super featherweight title at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The official time was 2:30.
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Mayweather dropped to the canvas four times in the second round, but referee Richard Steele declared only two of them as knockdowns before waving to end the match. Chavez successfully defended the 130-pound title he won on September 13, 1984 by 8th round TKO over Mario Martínez, would later defeat Mayweather again by 10th round TKO in a rematch in the WBC light welterweight title bout on May 13, 1989.
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Chavez was a champion with a 46-0 record that time, but he was on his first nationally televised fight. He won over Ruben Castillo by 6th round TKO in his first defense.
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Mayweather lost the opening round on all three judges' scorecards, but had connected some successful punches. He had good footwork, landed some stinging jabs and occasionally switched to his right hand. Chavez pummeled the body and established distance.
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In the second, Mayweather rocked Chavez with his famous right hand. The hit ignited the champion's adrenaline and he rallied to overcome the disadvantage, connecting a double-right hand that downed the challenger but was declared a slip by referee Richard Steele.
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Mayweather was wobbly and became a prey to Chavez's attack and strong right hand decked him severely. Mayweather’s legs were unsteady, and again was down and the fight was stopped by Steele.
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The legendary Chavez made nine defenses of the title before moving up to lightweight. Mayweather, won the title that they fought for, went on to seize the WBC junior lightweight crown. In his fifth defense, he was dethroned by Chavez in a rematch.
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Julio Cesar Chavez actively fought from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chavez was listed by The Ring as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993.
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During his career Chavez was the WBC super featherweight champion from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight title holder between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight titlist twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight king from 1990 to 1991.
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Chavez also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. He was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.
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Roger Mayweather actively fought from 1981 to 1999 and later became a boxing trainer. He was a two-division world champion, and was the WBA and The Ring super featherweight champion from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title holder from 1987 to 1989. He was also the IBO light welterweight titlist in 1994, and the IBO welterweight king from 1994 to 1995.
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Mayweather became the trainer for his nephew, Floyd Mayweather Jr., from 2000 to 2012. Under Roger's direction, Floyd Jr. became one of the greatest legends in boxing and reigned as a number one pound for pound fighter in the world.
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