Any thoughts on this solid match up? Both guys with similar opponents when they beat Roger Mayweather and Juan LaPorte. This fight could have happened around 1994 while both Chavez and Padilla were title holders at Jr WW. Did Padilla have a good shot at possibly beating Chavez around this time with his insane volume punching and stamina?
Zach Padilla was a promising fighter who looked like he had a future ahead of him. Won the WBO title and beat a handful of notables. Took a bit too much time off after suffering a loss. Also tragic how is sparring session with Shane Mosley ended his career just as things were really heating up for him. Overall he was a guy who could box, punch, take a punch and go the distance when needed. I don’t know what his chances would be against Chavez. By 1994 however Chavez was slowing down and becoming more vulnerable. Padilla might have held his own for a while at that point and even made a show out of. At the end of the day I don’t think I could favor him though.
Padilla was not an elite level fighter Chavez would break him down and stop him even in 1994. Don't get me wrong I liked Padilla he was exciting with an insane workrate but there's levels to boxing and Padilla is not on Chavez's level. Padilla barely won a decision over a past it Roger Mayweather who Chavez comprehensively beat twice in his prime. As I said levels.
