Chavez v Whitaker - 1987 (135 lbs)

I agree but JCC wins by UD IMO. pea was still only a pro of 3 years in 1987

 

Yes, And I believe Lou Duva, Whitaker's Manager stated they weren't ready for Chavez. At that time.

 

Chavez would have been too much for Pea. IF people will remember almost everyone asked Duva when he'd put Pea in with Chavez right after the Taylor fight and Duva said when the time was right.

 

Pea schooled Ramirez in 1988, Chavez fought him later in that year, not 1987. In 1988 the fight would've been quite close. It really depends on how the judges would've scored it considering Pea would've used the same strategy he used in the Ramirez fight. He won at least 10 rounds against Ramirez in my book.

 

The version that beat Nelson was arguably the single best version of Whitaker ever seen and fought with the perfect style to beat just about any pressure fighter. He beat an ATG in dominating fashion and won 118-110 on my cards.

 

That was Whitaker's most versatile performance. That fight was to Whitaker like De Jesus III was to Duran. IMO that fight truely defined Whitaker's style as a fighter.

The judge who scored the fight 115-113 Whitaker should have been hung.

 

There careers and primes didn't exactly overlap. Although prime for prime Pea is a difficult matchup for Chavez, Chavez was awesome in '87 and I'll give him the edge in that timeframe. It would always be a tough fight, but I think Chavez would be able to force enough exchanges and do enough work to the body to pull this one out.

 

Chavez went slightly off the boil in 88. Aguilar was a though the motions fight and Ramirez was a friend and both fought like that. Chavez would of had to of seriously improved to beat Whitaker.

But in 1988 Chavez could of, and I think Chavez wins either a comfortable 12 round decision or by late stoppage.

 

Based on what does Chavez comfortably outpoint or stop Whitaker in 1988?

Between 1986 and 1990 Chavez had all of one dominant victory over a world class fighter. He struggled mightily with Laporte, he struggled with Lockridge, he had a going through the motions fight with Ramirez, he struggled with Roger Mayweather in the rematch and of course got within 2 seconds of losing to Taylor. Rosario had a style made to order for Chavez - guy without great defense that looks to knock you out (ain't happening with Chavez's chin) with questionable stamina (again, not something you want against Chavez).

I just don't see what makes Chavez comfortably beat Whitaker at all, unless of course we're talking a Whitaker with a broken hand, like the one that beat Ramirez (comfortably).

 

Chavez on Rosario form is at his very best, he had nothing to motivate him in 1988 hence the lackluster wins over Aguilar and Ramirez.

Whitaker probably did not peak until 1990/91, but had a style to be super competitive against Chavez.

Whitaker would I suspect win the early rounds in a 1988 battle, but like Taylor (who was in better form than Whitaker at the time), Chavez would grind down Sweet Pea and be on top of him by the later middle rounds.

Then it would be just a case of if Sweet Pea could make it to the final bell, thus my picks either Chavez by late stoppage or comfortable points win.

Remember how good Chavez was in them days, and remember Whitaker was two/three years away from peaking.

 

This is actually hard for me, because Chavez at 135 was at his absolute h2h best, but i will pick Whitaker everytime.