Yes, Whitaker ‘beat’ Chavez in ‘93 but I don’t actually hold that much weight in that result when weighing up how a fight between them would have gone 5 years earlier at lightweight. It’s clear with hindsight that Chavez was coming to the end of the road as a top fighter. We didn’t know at the time that he had stopped taking his training as seriously after the Camacho fight a year before he met Whitaker. He had also started indulging in alcohol and drugs, I think. Given that he managed an official draw (albeit a very fortunate one) against Whitaker up at welterweight, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think Chavez could have got the better of Whitaker in 1988. Whitaker lost another controversial decision to Jose Luis Ramirez that year and Chavez looked sensational beating Rosario and Ramirez not long before that. Whitaker would get better over the next couple of years when he beat Ramirez in a rematch and also beat Azumah Nelson but Chavez would have been a very different proposition for him. Chavez generally fought well against southpaws, although he would never have fought one so slick as Whitaker. So what do you think? Is a fight in 1988 a repeat of what we saw in 1993 or does a younger, lighter Chavez have what it takes to beat a younger, lighter Whitaker?
No Whitaker wasn't ready at that time IMO. I've always said Whitaker losing that highly controversial decision to Ramirez was a blessing in disguise. Although I thought Whitaker beat Ramirez. Whitaker was too passive in that fight moving too much and not standing his ground enough. Even though it was only a year later you see Whitaker standing his ground more vs Ramirez in the rematch. And it was night/day a much better performance from Whitaker, who learnt from the 1st Ramirez fight not to waste so much motion moving unnecessarily. I think Chavez wins on points against the 1988 version of Whitaker. But the Whitaker of the 2nd Ramirez fight outpoints Chavez IMO.
I think so. Chavez was peak. Whitaker while extremely slick was not peak yet. Even though his decision loss to Ramirez was a travesty it was not the domination he displayed in the rematch over a year later. Chavez will outwork Whitaker for a competitive and fair decision. Something like 115-113. But the WBC or WBA latin judges, if there are any will score it 118-110 for Chavez. LOL.
Whitaker was simply always better than Chavez. Styles make fights too and Whitaker is simply too elusive, too quick and too good on the inside. It's not like Chavez didn't get outboxed in his peak against Mayweather and Taylor. Whitaker adds infighting, better defense and better stamina Chavez might have been using drink and recreational drugs, Whitaker was going on coke binges
In which fight did Mayweather outbox Chavez? The one where Chavez knocked him out in the 2nd round or the one in which Chavez made him quit? In which fight did Taylor outbox Chavez? The one in which he was beaten into a gargoyle, sustained liver damage and was stopped in 12? Or the one in which he got beat to a pulp and stopped in 8?
A prime and motivated Pernell had all sorts of troubles with an overweight, partied out, over the hill, disinterested Chavez. Julio KO4
Chavez was absolute peak, Whitaker needed another year or two. Chavez wins at that point but peak for peak (which is 135) i take Whitaker to ride home on his stylistic advantage. He's got exactly what it takes to get the W.
It's much closer, but Whitaker still edges it. His style would always give Chavez problems. Whitaker SD
