I`d make Chavez a slight favourite to beat Whitaker @ 135 lbs

Well i think Chavez is far better at this weight in head to head terms, an assessment based on his overall body of work done at 135 and the weight the actual fight was fought at (and at 140 pounds) respectively.

That said i still pick Whittaker

 

Whitaker had also lost his reflexes and speed when he fought Chavez in 93. That performance goes down among his best, but he lacked some strengths to his game that he had at lightweight. His mobility around the ring was noticeably cut down, as was his handspeed, and he also became far more flat-footed. Whitaker at lightweight was simply far "bouncier" and mobile on the balls on his feet when boxing in all directions. Just watch his reflexes and ability to pull the trigger against Nelson and the Ramirez rematch. He was extremely loose and fluid. Against Chavez, everything was slowed down compared to his prime days as a lightweight.

I'm actually in the minority with this one. But I think Whitaker would always have had a relatively easy time with Chavez. They both would have been better at lightweight. But I think the whole reflexes and speed scenario suits Whitaker as equally as it does Chavez, even though Chavez was a tad more past his prime when they fought at welterweight.

 

I don't think the decline in Chavez' ability by the time of the fight was really much more than Whitaker's, not enough to say that he would win a fight at 135 when the actual fight was a very clear win for Pea. Whitaker's ability to fight off the back foot is always going to reduce the effectiveness of JCC's style, and I think he would always have been able to match Chavez on the inside and get the better of him at long or mid-range. At 135lbs it would probably be a bit more competitive, but Whitaker still takes it for me.

 

I agree here. Julio's declining reflexes weren't the problem in this fight.

At lightweight things become tastier, but Chavez would never be able to land on Whitaker as he'd like to since Pernell at lightweight was about as unhittable as they come, and Whitaker's handspeed would always be a factor when they fought.

 

The whole point of the Whitaker-Chavez fight was to settle the long-running debate as to who had really been the better fighter, much like the Tyson-Holyfield fights. Whitaker settled that point as far as I'm concerned.

Frankly, I always thought Whitaker was the better and more impressive-looking fighter anyway. Whitaker at his peak at 135 was an awesome fighting machine. He could do just about everything and win just about any way he wanted - slugging, boxing, and even the occasional quick KO. Look at how he stood right in front of Ramirez in their rematch and beat the **** out of him, whereas Chavez had to struggle a bit with him before breaking him down.

 

BB you are correct, at 135 lbs, Chavez could'nt be moved........
Whitaker had a strenghth advantage at Welterweight, and thats an advantage he would'nt have at 135 lbs.

Bottom line is that history showed us 147 lbs was'nt a weight he could carry.......Whitaker while not a big Welter, carried 147 quite comfortably.

I'll one up Butcher.....I dont believe Whitaker fends off the pressure of Chavez.....Chavez walks right through Whitaker's shots, works the body mid to late rounds and stops Whitaker late.

If it goes to a decision its a 7-5 7-4-1, but clear decision for Chavez.

Whitaker was a proven Welter, Chavez was'nt, and Chavez still did enough to earn a draw imo!

Its my opinion, but my feeling is that Whitaker is to defensive minded to beat the true offensive elites fighting at the top of their game.


Chavez late stoppage!

 

You do know that Jose Luis Ramirez is Chavez' brother in law.........Ramirez is married to Chavez' sister......

.....which explains why Chavez held back his fury!:deal

 

Earn a draw?, once you watch the fight you will change your mind.

 

i think that in 135 and 140 Chavez would win a UD agains Pea ... specially the 135 version ... that version of CHAVEZ was perfect!!!

Chavez never fight at welter in that time.. and still earn a draw. like it or not haters

 

Pea was also faster and had more slick reflexes. The outcome would be NO different whatsoever......if anything Pea would actually win the decision because the rounds wuld be even less close.

I'm a massive Chavez fan but Pea's style is kryptonite to him. I'd be willing to say that a drained Pea at 130 lbs would beat 130lb Julio.

 

he came in at 142 he was hardly walking around with a load of excess weight.

There are no 'haters' on the classic forum.........maybe you should **** off back to the General :good

 

I gave Sweat Pea a 1 round decision. Pat Putnum, sitting near me, gave it to Julio, then a draw, then seemed to completely reverse in the media. That fight was a lot closer than most recall. There really was nothing emphatic. And yes, JCC was fighting above his best weight and past his prime, and Sweat Pea was at his best weight and, I'm sorry, in his prime.

Head to head, at 135, it's a toss up, but a better weighted toss for Julio. Both deserve to be sure HOF'ers and who really knows.

 

Pea at his bset weight??????????? Closer than most recall??? You act as if we haven't seen it recently. Awful post