Chavez vs Rosario One Of Boxings ATG Displays?

I was in this camp as well. The most recent efforts I'd seen of Chavez were close fights with Laporte and Lockridge. I don't know that you can ever predict how well a guy will perform up a weight. I thought it was a tough fight, but I thought Rosario's power would pull it out. I did not expect Chavez to be the clearly stronger guy and I did not predict the virtuoso performance wherein he exposed every flaw Rosario had. Plus, I was just a kid and thought the red satin headbands were less than manly.
I couldn't have been more wrong.

 

I always remember the story about Rosario's Misses making his young son watch the entire fight from ringside. I was grimacing at some of the punishment Rosario was taking, watching on TV, I dread to think what a young boy watching his Father from ringside thought.

 

I don't think its underrated by any means. Anytime you bring up a solid inside fight this is one of the first choices that's usually said. Still clinical and one of the best I've seen along with Armstrong-Ross, Charles-Marshall 2, and of recent times Corrales-Castillo both fights & Mayweather-Cotto.

 

Chavez was on fire that night. At his best Rosario was a frightening fighter - and Chavez bossed him from the jump. Those thudding body punches must have hurt like hell. Steele should have stopped the fight before Rosario's corner threw in the towel.

Surprised you didn't mention Ali's toying with Quarry in '72.

 

Fighters like Meldrick Taylor or even Roger Mayweather most likely would have been ranked higher than they currently are if Chavez had not administered beatings to them. Taylor was a unique talent in his own right.

Those later fights he lost happen to all of them if they don't retire soon enough.

 

I agree. Chavez simply took A quality opponent and
took him apart. Rasario wasn't the same after.

 

Chavez that night would have been a tough match for any lightweight in history.

 

One of my favorite fights to watch. Such an utter master's class by Julio against a dangerous and peak opponent.