Athletes are often much bigger celebrities than actors, singers and other celebrities. They combine the pride of one’s country and people with the glitz and glam of being in the spotlight.
In today’s text we are going to talk about a famous Mexican boxer called Julio Cesar Chavez, who was at the top of his career during the nineties. We will talk about his net worth, biography and career, so let us dive in right away.
Early Years
Julio César Chávez was born on July 12, 1962 in Ciudad Obregón, Mexico. Son of Rodolfo Chávez Lizárraga and Isabel González. He was able to remain in the world of boxing as a World Champion for 16 years. In 1996 he completed one hundred matches as a professional, in which he demonstrated a class, a punch and a self-esteem worthy only of the great champions.
Julio César Chávez González: an eccentric life, full of mysteries, surrounded by great figures that marked times. While Mexico was going through difficult times, “the sensational and great Mexican champion” became a kind of hero, in which all our archetypes were reflected in their consecutive triumphs. We all celebrated their unforgettable moments of glory.
Rodolfo Chávez González, the older brother of Julio César, was the one who started the family’s boxing adventure and was the one who always accompanied him at all times of his enviable career. Here the truth of the myths about the public and private life of Julius Caesar is revealed; in these pages the soul of the Mexican idol is stripped. Written in a crude and uncensored way, this biography is made with the purpose that the next generations will be aware of the truth of the greatest boxer that Mexico gave to the world.
I know Rodolfo, a good friend and who confided to me this story that we are now presenting, made with his testimony, with his memories and with many revelations made by the great Mexican champion, Julio César Chávez, anecdotes and precisions for this book.
For my part, I feel fortunate to have lived closely with the angel that surrounds the charismatic character. A leader who captivated an entire nation. Breaking boundaries and paradigms while his extraordinary story continues to speak.
Career Path
Chávez, like most Mexican boxers, completely relinquished an amateur career and became a professional in 1980, at the age of seventeen. He beat his first 44 opponents in construction battles.
On 4 March 1981, however, it came to a fight against Miguel Ruiz (3 wins, 9 defeats), which was a long-lasting. He struck at the end of the first round and was immediately disqualified. The Boxing Committee of Culiacan, who belonged to his manager Ramon Felix, changed the result later in a “knockout victory”.
On September 13, 1984, he won in Los Angeles by a premature victory over his compatriot Mario Martínez WBC title in super featherweight (English: junior lightweight). He defended this title until 1987 nine times successfully, including against Roger Mayweather by KO, his point wins against Rocky Lockridge and Juan LaPorte, however, were controversial.
In 1987, he was able to win in the next higher weight class, the lightweight, against the dreaded Puerto Rican puncher Edwin Rosario prematurely the WBA title, which is considered by many experts as a career highlight.
In 1988 he was able to unite this belt with the WBC title of his friend and compatriot José Luis Ramírez. Ramirez was beaten despite the title and visually impressive record of 101 wins (82 KOs) in 107 fights, but had recently beaten with highly controversial rating Olympic champion Pernell Whitaker, which Chavez took a long time to avoid Whitaker.
As early as 1989, he rose to the light welterweight, where he met again in the fight for the WBC title on Roger Mayweather, the uncle of Floyd Mayweather junior, and also secured this belt. Mayweather gave up the fight after stomach cramps as a result of body punches in a round-break.
In 1990, the most famous, but most controversial, battle of his career came when he won in a union fight with IBF titlist, US Olympic gold medalist Meldrick Taylor, just two seconds before the final gong by technical knockout. The demolition was controversial, because Taylor was on his feet and on the scores led at this time.
Officially there was no direct rematch, as Taylor boxed in the wake of welterweight, Chávez, however, preferred to remain in the light welterweight division. (Chavez boxed but well later in the welterweight and the rematch years later took place in the light welterweight).
In 1992 he defeated in a title defense the popular, but his high point far left Hector Camacho on points. In a sport ally otherwise neglected WBO semi-world championship fight against Greg Haugen (USA), the Chavez in the 5th round by demolition won, came in February 1993 136,000 spectators in the Aztec Stadium, which meant world record.
On September 10, 1993, he punched a draw in the world weight against US star Pernell Whitaker draw. The result was considered very controversial, independent observers had rated the fight as a clear point victory Whitakers.
On January 29, 1994 took place against Frankie Randall his first official defeat, Randall was Top 10 in the Ring Magazine but a largely blank newspaper. Chávez was in this fight for the first time in his career on the ground and finally lost by an (officially) close 2: 1 point decision. The direct rematch in May of the year, he could then decide controversially for himself, Randall was diverted after Don King to another title.
Nevertheless, his best time seemed over now, in 1996 and 1998 he lost against Óscar de la Hoya each prematurely. Also in his last title fight, on July 29, 2000 against Kostya Tszyu, he had no chance and lost by technical knockout in the sixth round.
Julio’s life was definitely a vivid one. He managed to make a he impact on the world of box and also on the athletics in general. His estimated net worth is around 10$ million. Even though he earned a huge bigger amount during his career, a lot of his money went through the window because of his troubled life. Struggling with alcohol and drug addiction caused him to waste a lot of his money away.
Personal life
Like we already mentioned, Julio grew up in Mexico with his family. Even though he was a rock star and everyone knew him for his extraordinary talent, he still had his struggles and was faced with addiction through the most part of his life.
His professional debut came on May 2, 1980 against Mexican Andres Felix, whom he defeated by KO in the sixth round. In 1984 he won the world super featherweight title in the version of the World Council, after winning by KO in the eighth round to the American Mario Martinez, and the lightweight version of the association by defeating Edwin Rosario, in 1987, by technical KO in the eleventh round.
Perhaps the most dramatic of the matches he played was the one he faced against Meldrick Taylor, in March 1990. Chávez was clearly losing to the points, but a fantastic reaction in the last round helped him win by KO with twelve seconds left the end of the fight.
Throughout his career Chávez, also known as El Guerrero, was able to impose enormous respect on all his rivals, to the point that he reached one hundred matches with only two defeats: the first, points against Frankie Randall, in January of 1994, with the title of the superliners at stake. Chávez defeated Randall in the eighth round of the rematch, held in May of that same year. The second time the Mexican lost was in June 1996, against the American Óscar de la Hoya, by technical KO in the fourth.
His only null in the first hundreds of fights was equally exciting: it took place in the fight that faced him, with the superlight title of the Council in play, to the American Pernell Whitaker, in September of 1993. Included in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the 2011 edition.
After several fights in 1995 (in which he won against Giovanni Parisi, Craig Houk and David Kamau), the Mexican champion Julio César Chávez decided to stop his career and take a sabbatical from the ring.
It had been more than a year since he had lost, surprisingly, his unbeaten record against Frankie Randall and Julio was not well. It was a fact that marked his life and career in a decisive way, surprising him and the whole world.
A hard blow that took him to touch the canvas in his personal life and that led him, after the fights of 1995, to mark a pause, to separate from boxing and travel with his family in Europe.
In his tour of the Old Continent, Julio César was fully moved when he arrived in a city: Rome. There, the first thing he asked the delegation that accompanied him was to meet Pope John Paul II.
But the champion did not want to go alone to a mass officiated by his holiness, as his brother Rodolfo Chavez and the writer (and friend of Julio), Javier Cubedo, in the biography released in August by the Aguilar publishing house, under the title Julio César Chávez: The true story.
Quick summary
Full name: Julio Cesar Chavez
Date of birth: July 12th 1962
Birthplace: Mexico
Age: 57
Profession: Professional boxer
Height: 1.71 m
Weight: 82 kg
Net Worth: 10$ million
