Julio César Chávez

:For this man's son, also a boxer, see Julio César Chávez, Jr.

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Julio César Chávez (born July 12, 1962 in Culiacán, Sinaloa) is a Mexican world champion boxer who won 5 world titles (WBC Superfeatherweight -1984-, WBA Lightweight -1987, WBC Lightweight -1988-, WBC Superlightweight -1989-, IBF Jr. Welterweight -1990-, WBC Superlightweight -1994-) in 3 different divisions. Chávez also went undefeated for 89 bouts before originally retiring with a record of 104-5-2, with 80 knockouts. Among the world champions that Chávez defeated in his career are Edwin Rosario, Jose Luis Ramirez, Rocky Lockridge, Meldrick Taylor, Roger Mayweather, Sammy Fuentes, Héctor "Macho" Camacho, Juan Laporte, and Tony López.

Related Topics:
July 12 - 1962 - Culiacán - Sinaloa - Mexican - Boxer - Edwin Rosario - Jose Luis Ramirez - Rocky Lockridge - Meldrick Taylor - Roger Mayweather - Sammy Fuentes - Héctor "Macho" Camacho - Juan Laporte - Tony López

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Chávez wore a black ribbon on the night of September 21, 1985, during his world title defense against Dwight Pratchett, to honor all his countrymen and women who fell during the Mexico City earthquake of September 17, 1985.

Related Topics:
September 21 - 1985 - Dwight Pratchett - Mexico City - September 17

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Chávez's relationship with boxing promoter Don King was always controversial. During a period that year, Chávez tried to break his ties to King and sign with Bob Arum.

Related Topics:
Don King - Bob Arum

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After being threatened by a gang that his son would be kidnapped, Chávez became one of the first people to denounce the kidnappings of famous people's relatives in Mexico during the middle and late 1990s.

Related Topics:
Kidnappings of famous people's relatives - Mexico - 1990s

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Chávez held a short romantic relationship with then budding actress Salma Hayek during 1994.

Related Topics:
Salma Hayek - 1994

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On November 24, 2003, he came out of retirement to avenge an earlier loss to Willy Wise, knocking Wise out in two rounds at Mexico City.

Related Topics:
November 24 - 2003 - Willy Wise

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In April of 2004, Chávez went back into the ring, for what he again claimed woiuld be, his last appearance. In that fight, nicknamed Adiós, México, Gracias (Good-bye, Mexico, Thank you), he beat his former conqueror, Frankie Randall (the first man to beat Chávez and drop him), by a ten round decision.

Related Topics:
April - 2004 - Frankie Randall

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On May 28, 2005, Chávez once again stepped into a boxing ring, outpointing Ivan Robinson over ten rounds at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the city where he had won his first world title 21 years before.

Related Topics:
May 28 - 2005 - Ivan Robinson - Staples Center - Los Angeles, California

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On September 17, he lost by a knockout in five rounds to Grover Wiley, after allegedly injuring his right hand. Chávez then told his promoter Bob Arum that he was definitely retiring from boxing.

Related Topics:
September 17 - Grover Wiley

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Chávez holds a record of 107 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws, with 80 knockouts. He holds the records for most successful defenses of a world title (27) and most title fights (37). Chavez also earned the second best winning streak (89-0) of an undefeated fighter in boxing history. His son, Julio Jr., is also a professional boxer.

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