Julio Cesar Chavez Sr waves farewell to fans in final exhibition
On June 19, legendary Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Sr stepped into the ring for the last time. He fought in an exhibition bout against Hector “Macho Machito” Camacho Jr, son of legendary Puerto Rican fighter Hector “Macho” Camacho. However, Chavez Sr’s gesture at the end of the fight towards Saul “Canelo” Alvarez created the ultimate passing of the torch moment.
Leading up to this Pay-Per-View exhibition labeled Tribute to the Kings, Chavez Sr and Camacho Jr showed pure disdain for each other during their face-off in front of the press. Macho Machito wasted little time getting in the face and shoving the Mexican legend. Chavez Sr, showing that fighting spirit that made him a living legend, went after the younger Camacho. It made the Mexican fans want to see the fight even more as this was a classic Mexico vs Puerto Rico rivalry.
The 42-year-old Camacho Jr was once a fighter himself with a career record of 59-7-1, 33 KO’s. Although, he could not reach the same boxing accolades as his father by never fighting for a world title. He considered this fight to be his world championship moment. The last time fans saw Camacho Jr in the ring was against Victor Abreu back in May 2019. Macho Machito was looking to avenge his dad’s defeat to the elder Chavez for the WBC Junior Welterweight championship back in 1992.
The 58-year-old Chavez Sr amassed a career boxing record of 107-6-2, 85 KO’s. While fighting in front of the Mexican crowd in Guadalajara, he turned back the hands of time in this farewell special exhibition. Beloved by the fans, the living legend entered the ring to the roaring sounds of jubilation. Fans enjoyed watching him fight like the Chavez of old, going to the body against the younger son of his old adversary.
Despite there being no scorecard readings, it did not prevent either man from attacking the other. Pride was the prize in this bout. In the first three rounds of the fight, Chavez Sr and Camacho Jr were throwing the leather with bad intentions.
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The fans got a very special treat as Chavez Sr wanted to fight the final round without the headgear. However, he would eventually put it back on, only to look out to the crowd and wave for Canelo to stand in his corner in a monumental passing of the torch.
When the final bell sounded, the fans cheered as the Mexican legend from the past embraced the Mexican phenom of the present in the ring. Chavez Sr waved goodbye to the fans, giving them one last hoorah to see.
By: Garrisson Bland
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