He's got to be the least appreciated, least discussed Hall of Fame boxer on this board. Yeah, he had some issues and personal problems, and his story was generally tragic in character. But dude laid it all out in the ring. He did not show up for paycheck only. And he had skills galore. Anyone here old enough to have seen him live? Where does he rank as a feather or super feather? Thoughts on this great fighter, please.
Bobby Chacon was my mother's final favorite fighter- about that time my parents saw how seriously I was taking it and acted like they hadn't encouraged me from the start. He is also the biggest reason why I first went to a boxing gym. After he beat Little Red, I wanted to learn how to fight so that I could beat up Bobby Chacon. I hated him for a long time. Unlike Sanchez- I still don't like him- Chacon won me back and became a favorite. The wars with Boza-Edwards and Limon? How could you not love him? A couple stories that I have heard about him... A friend of mine in Texas, originally from California, was trained by the man that trained Mac Foster and Wayne Thornton, and he sparred with Chacon for the Mancini fight. He told me that he and Chacon got along well- "He's an ahole and I'm an ahole"-until he told Chacon that he couldn't beat Mancini- "he's a big guy, you're a little guy"- and then, when they sparred Chacon would try and knock him out. He said that Bobby would use his left glove to pull my friend's left hand out of the way of Chacon's right hand. If you watched Tuesday Night Fights on the USA network in the early 90s, you might remember that they had fights, at least twice, from Butte, Montana. There was a man here named Bob LeCoure that promoted fights for many years in Montana and, according to many people, he originated the Contender series tv show idea but he had it stolen from him because he insisted on doing it in Butte. To help his cause he put together a gym here and, eventually, Calvin Grove and Juan LaPorte trained for fights here. He brought in Bobby Chacon to work as trainer at the facility. Butte is high altitude, inexpensive (especially then), and, if you find value in running hills, this is your place; I have weekly conversations with people looking to train here. But back then there were a lot of drinking establishments- about 1 per 30 residents- and Bobby, so I have been told, was soon making the rounds and his behavior became erratic and they sent him home. A courageous fighter with more skill than given credit for, a man that endured a lot of hardship in his life.
1982 fight of the year Bazooka Limon vs Bobby Chacon is a good one. Not sure how many but they fought a bunch of times now that I think about it.
Man, thanks. Bobby was a complicated character, faced a hurricane of S in his life, and perhaps much of it was his own conjuring. Goods stories. And Butte, Home of Evil Knievel. That says all you need to know.
Bobby Chacon is a crucial part of California (and general) boxing history and I watch his fights pretty often. Less now, because I regret how things turned out and how boxing affected him and his behavior. I wish it ended differently for him. Blood In, Blood Out. Warren Zevon. The End of the Line. His story is hard to handle, he really gave it all for the fans and lost it all, too. I loved watching his fights on tape, DVD from the flea market, TV and eventually the internet. I did not get to see him fight live but when I was younger I heard of an action fighter who was Chicano and Californian who was as tough as anyone who ever lived, so I grew interest. When I saw him in action, it was truly unbelievable. I couldn't fathom someone having courage to his degree, I have never seen someone take punishment like Chacon did save Holyfield. His fights are so incredibly brutal I have a hard time watching them as often as I used to. I really wish he just packed it in when his wife told him to. I hate that story. He is on the Mount Rushmore of Blood and Guts Fighters and built a stout resume aswell. All respect to Bobby Chacon. His fights against Boza Edwards, Bazooka Limon, Danny Lopez were awesome.
Hi Buddy. Excellent post, many thanks, not just stats or bare bones, good interesting tales and anecdotes from the fighters, sparring partners, friends, whatever, that's what keeps me on board, more like this please fellow posters. stay safe amigo.
Saw him live on TV everytime he was on in the late 70's early 80's. He was some fighter through and through. The Boza fights are unbeatable for pure entertainment.