Did the older past prime legend JCC fail against a much younger De La Hoya or was ODLH just that good?
Had more to do with Chavez getting old than Oscar being that good in my opinion. Chavez lifestyle and volume of fights was impossible for him to keep up not to mention he got dominated by Randall and was probably going to lose again until he got saved.
By the time of the first Chavez /Oscar fight ,JCC was way past his Best . Chavez remember had a long ,long career ,facing some of the best fighters in different weight division s . Also Oscar was young and hungry ,he wanted a big name win . Ironically in the rematch Julio did a lot better ,showing glimpses of his past Glory. But yep ,it s that old situation in boxing ,the Lion grows old and the young ones prowl ,ready to feast !
Chavez was an all time great fighter at 130 and 135 but past his best at 147 when he fought Oscar. Oscar was a terrific fighter but I don't feel an all time great at 147. By the time they fought Julio was past it.
Chavez was aging and hadn't done himself any favors with his parties and nonstop beer binges. I don't know you've read Oscar's autobiography but I'd recommend picking it up if you haven't. It's solid by boxing biography standards, and its worth reading for a story about Raul Marquez when they were both amateurs alone. Anyhow, Oscar tells a story about how he was leaving his hotel early in the morning for roadwork and he encounter Chavez, who smelled like beer, struggling to follow some fine young mamacita out of the back of the limo. That was the moment where Oscar psychologically got past his awe of his hero.
Chavez was past prime, but young Deloyhoya was very good. Deloyhoya dominated Chavez. As he should've done.
Never read it. I guess after Oscar got past the awe of JCC being his hero, he became his own hero by snorting coke and dressing in heels.
