Classic Fights: Julio Cesar Chavez vs Edwin Rosario

By: Randy De La O

It's hard for me to believe it's been almost twenty-six years since the Julio Cesar Chavez vs Edwin Rosario fight. It's hard for me to wrap my head around the years that have gone by. Both men had stellar careers but this fight took Chavez to the next level. I was already a fan of Chavez but this fight made a believer out of me. Chavez was the real thing and his overall career was one for the ages.

Chavez defended his WBC Super Featherweight title with a 12 round unanimous decision  victory against Danilo Cabrera, of the Dominican Republic, a couple of months earlier. He vacated the title to move up in weight. Rosario, for his part, defended his own WBA lightweight title with an 8th round stoppage of fellow Puerto Rican Juan Nazario.

The fight would take place on November 21, 1987 in the outdoor arena at the Las Vegas Hilton. The referee was Richard Steele. It was a battle between two iron willed fighters. This fight is just one in a long decades old and storied rivalry between Puerto Rican and Mexican fighters. It also took place in a decade (the 1980's) that produced such great champions as Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Salvador Sanchez, Ray Mancini, Wilfredo Gomez, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Roberto Duran. I couldn't begin to list them all. Duran, along with Ali, was the fighter of the decade for the 1970's.

Chavez really showed his patience in this fight. From the very beginning Chavez's plan was to grind down Rosario round by round and that's exactly what he did. Rosario, owner of a huge fighting heart was always in the fight and his courage was never in question but in Chavez it soon became apparent that he was in over his head. Referee Richard Steele stopped the fight at 2:38 seconds of the 11th round.

I sw the fight at my friend Scott Gombrich's home in Pomona. My son Andrew was with me. He was five at the time. Still trying to wrap my head around that.

Enjoy the fight!!


Video Courtesy of GorkyWolf and Youtube.com

About Floyd Mayweather Jr .....

Admittedly I have never been a fan of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and I'll be rooting against him tonight in his fight with Robert Guerrero. His antics have always rubbed me the wrong way. Lately though, I get the feeling that for the most part, it's an act designed to help promote his fights. Who knows? I am though a fan of boxing and for that reason I have to give the man his just due and proper respect.

To remain an undefeated champion at the highest level of the sport, in any era, has to mean something. He's fought the best that boxing has had to throw at him. With regards to Manny Pacquiao, who shares at least some blame for their proposed mega fight never taking place, I believe Mayweather would have beaten him as well and in typical Mayweather fashion. There is nothing in Mayweather's history that makes me believe he was afraid of Pacquiao. It was about ego and money.

So, whether he wins or loses tonight, it really doesn't matter. He's done enough. He's a shoo in for the Hall of Fame. His legacy is set in stone. It's going to be a while before we see his like again. So I'm going to enjoy his fight with Guerrero tonight and I'm going to appreciate the fighter he has been but I'll be rooting for Guerrero to pull it off. As always, let the best man win!

Mayweather vs Guerrero

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Robert Guerrero

Mayweather and Guerrero face off 

Does Robert Guerrero stand a "Ghost" of a chance against Floyd Mayweather Jr? I think he does but he can't take anything for granted and he better be at the top of his game. As we've seen in the past, saying you are going to beat Mayweather and then going out and doing it are two different things.

Like him or not, Mayweather can fight and being undefeated he still has a lot of momentum on his side. But he's still a just man and as the old saying goes, "There ain't a horse that can't be broke, nor a man that can't be throwed!" Nothing is impossible!

Guerrero for his part has to do what he does best. This is not the time or fight to introduce a new style. He needs to stay on top of Floyd, crowd him, bully him, rough him up. He needs to be in the type of shape where he can throw a high volume of punches up close for most of the rounds. He needs not to try to out box Floyd. Be Roberto Guerrero! Stick with what got you to this fight. Take the heart away from the other guy!

I'll be pulling for Guerrero. I like the guy. I like how he took care of his wife and family. You all know the story. That takes heart. I don't know what the odds are but I know they favor Mayweather. Sometimes the odds don't mean a thing. Go for it Robert Guerrero, no man is unbeatable!