The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

PART 6: The Ring Magazine Fight(s) of the Year

1982

Chacon and Limons intense rivalry reached a brutal conclusion, with the always savage title holder Limon defending against the 31-year old veteran 'Schoolboy', his fighting heart replenished by the grief he suffered after his Wifes suicide. 8 years after his war with Danny Lopez, and 3 years after his hard-fought loss to Arguello, Chacon had another chance to put it all on the line for a shot at glory. For Limon, he was defending the championship he had claimed for the 2nd time, and looking to prove his superiority to Chacon.

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The 4th meeting between Chacon and Limon features back-and-forth violence that would seem unbelievable in a Hollywood movie. In the only bout of their series contested for a World title (and the only one scheduled for the full Championship distance), it is also one of the best 15 round performances of Bobby Chacons career, with a more than capable wild man in front of him to trade for duration of the rounds!

In a close, hard-to-score bout that has to be seen by any self-confessed boxing fan that hasn't seen it already, Chacon won a close decision victory (143-141, 142-141, 141-140) in what is deemed by many to be one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport, and never fails to get a mention in any magazine article or forum thread concerning the matter. Numerous rounds from this could be nominated for 'Greatest Round Of All Time', with some of the wildest and most violent exchanges ever captured on film.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faza0j7nLnk[/ame]

Reminiscent of a tsunami washing over a spewing volcano, these men traded on iron wills and chins only for 15 rounds, with Limon knocking Chacon to the deck twice, and after withstanding ferocious beatings in many rounds where it looked like a gust of wind could knock him over, he somehow withstood countless punches from an unelievably revitalised 'Schoolboy'! Always game and trying to fire back, Limon finally wilted to a series of clean shots in the last 20 seconds of the final round. Limon, knowing no different, got up to last the distance, narrowly losing his championship to Chacon in one of the greatest slugfests ever witnessed by man.

Chacon claimed his first major title since 1975, and dedicated the win to his late Wife. In his first defence, just five months later, he would take on an old foe.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any madder, it did.

1983

Cornelius Boza Edwards had rebuilt his career and confidence after being left in a heap against Rolando Navarette, the London-based boxer-puncher returned to 135lbs claimed the European Lightweight Championship, and looked strong at the weight in a hidden gem against former Arguello victim Roberto Elizondo, in an action-packed ten rounder. Stripping back to 130lbs for a shot at Chacon, the man Boza had overwhelmed late in defence of his old belt just over two years before, Boza clearly left some of his legs in the gym.

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They fought in May 1983, in a classic war that was judged to have been 'The Fight of the Year'. With Boza winning the first two rounds, his hand briefly touched down in the first and Chacon caught him square on with a right hand and dropped him late in the second, again salvaging a point! In the 3rd, Boza continued with his good work, this time dropping Chacon with a sharp left hand. Chacon, ever the entertainer, jumped right back up and went to work, claiming a second straight 'Fight of the Year' accolade with the last great sho of heart in his long career. A must see.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLPJ2P-OBWY[/ame]

With Boza seemingly in control throughout the middle rounds, he made Chacons long-punished face a mess, damaging his nose and causing blood to pour down his face from cuts around his right eye. In the 12th, Chacon fired back, letting fly with both hands and dropping a fatigued Boza. Boza manages to survive until the end, but, having seemingly controlled most of the bout, was on the wrong side of a Unanimous Decision, in the last great effort of both men that snatched any remaining semblance of 'prime' out of them.

 

PART 7: Past Prime

Alexis Arguello

Arguello fought a rematch with Aaron Pryor, and though he gave a valiant effort he was stopped in ten rounds and announced his retirement straight afterwards. Making a few comebacks, Arguello was never stopped again, and showed how his power would always travel with him with a 4th round K.O win up at Welterweight against once-beaten former Light Welterweight title holder Billy Costello, who had been a very solid performer just a year or so before, dominating Saoul Mamby, as well as defeating good contenders such as Ronnie Shields, Bruce Curry and Leroy Haley. Arguello had fought just once in the 3 years following the draining second defeat to Pryor, but managed to add another good victory to his ring record. Before the fight, Costello had opposed to the way Alexis' hands were wrapped, and the legend was incensed. He showed the younger man the true extent of his power, folding him with a picture perfect straight right, seen at 3:53 in the video below, and unleashing his conclusive finishing ability at a high level for the last time.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-sXecA5Z6s[/ame]

Quite to the contrary to his public persona, outside of the ring Arguello battled with his personal demons, struggling with drug and alochol abuse and depression. Eventually becoming a politician in his homeland for the Sandinista regime he once opposed, Arguello died in 2009 from a gunshot wound, in what was ruled as suicide. He leaves an incredible legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport, chivalrous and dedicated, merciless but respectful. The quintessential boxer-puncher.

Bobby Chacon

Chacon moved out of the Super Featherweight division when he was stripped by the WBC by refusing to defend his title against Hector Camacho in Puerto Rico. Going for his third belt in 3 weight classes, 'Schoolboy' Chacon was clobbered inside 3 rounds by the much stronger Ray Mancini in a misjudged foray into the Lightweight division, but finished with a seven fight winning streak against journeyman contender types (including Freddie Roach).

Sadly, in later life Chacon paid for the all the great nights he gave Boxing fans, losing all of his money and properties, suffering with pugilistic dementia and living through the grief of his Son, Bobby Jr, being murdered. The extent of the damage done to this legendary hero of the sport can be seen in the video below, a retrospective interview with Larry Merchant revisiting the classic fight between Chacon and Danny Lopez.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4afYmsjPJA[/ame]

Rafael Limon

After his brave and courageous display under heavy shelling in the 1982 FOTY, Bazooka Limon was given an instant chance to bounce back, by taking on the red-hot prospect Hector 'Macho' Camacho for the title that was stripped from Chacon after he couldn't come to an agreement to face the (then) ultra-confident and flamboyant Hector Camacho, who possesed some of the fastest hands of any era.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRs50e7xjwo[/ame]

Ruthlessly drubbed by the highly regarded Camacho, Limon faded out of title contention after the loss, becoming an opponent for a 59-0 Julio Cesar Chavez and a young Sharmba Mitchell in a late 80s.

Rolando Navarette

'The Bad Boy from Dadiangas' had the worst fall from grace out of these Warriors. In 1985 he was convicted of sexual assault and served 3 years in prison. Making a brief but insignificant comeback in the late 80s (though he did avenge his loss to Bazooka Limon via ten round decision) Navarette slipped further and further into decline, having to survive a knife attack in a domestic dispute and having been arrested numerous times, he now lives on the few dollars a day he makes selling fish on the street. Whilst perhaps not quite as durable as his peers, Navarette was a skilled counter puncher on his best day, have serious pop and played his part in some terrific battles. Despite his less than savoury actions outside of the ring, he should be commended for his boxing career, where he earned a strap in a highly competitive era.

Cornelius Boza Edwards

After the disappointment of losing the decision against Bobby Chacon, Boza lost a decision to the very good Rocky Lockridge, before returning to Lightweight where he finished his career. He lost a 12 round decision to Hector Camacho (then WBC champ at 135lbs) where he constantly came forward to the already depleted 'Macho', who had lost all confidence after being rocked in a defence against rock fisted Edwin Rosario, and had turned to constantly moving out of punching range and being negative. In his final fight, he was punched out in five by one of the best Lightweights of the era, heavy handed Mexican Jose Luis Ramirez, unable to slip consistently enough and unable to stay strong in a battle of attrition. Boza Edwards moved to Las Vegas in the 80s, and now trains fighters there under head trainer Roger Mayweather, the WBA super featherweight champion in Boza's era who took the title from Samuel Serrano (who never fought any of 'em) and lost it to Lockridge via first round K.O.

These men guaranteed exciting fights and great nights. Whilst Arguellos challenger all fell short of 'greatness', they must be admired, applauded and rewarded for the efforts they gave in the ring, and for what they left between the ropes.

 

****ing hell Flea, your an animal

going to take me a while to get through all this but brilliant, thanks for posting it all :good

 

Agree with this. Word for word.

Good job Flea Man :good

 

Enjoy the fighters boys, some fine ones in amongst the waffle :good

 

I also apologise that is slows down the previous page big time. Persist with it for a minute and it looks greats :good

 

Boza Edwards/Chacon II is one for the ages.

Haven't seen most of the others though, I look forward to working through them.

 

Their first fight is also well worth a watch if you get the chance :good

If you haven't seen Limon-Chacon IV already, you're in for a :yikes

 

I've only seen their second fight. Heard great things about IV, but I didn't even know it was available on YT till you posted it today. You're description of it suggests to me that I ought to whip the popcorn out for it :yep

 

:yep My work is done.

 

Yeah cheers for that enjoyed reading it looking forward to watching the fights,being fairly new to boxing i enjoy reading stuff like this had only really heard of Arguello and only seen one his fights (Pryor).

 

Brilliant, again, my work is done ;-)

Hope you have as much fun discovering these fighters and having your mind blown as I did :good

 

Flea thats a great contribution! But I think the British Forum's next task is to find you a girlfriend as you clearly have waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much free time

 

;-) Only took about five hours spread over the week, seen most of it before :good

Thailand in February :hi:

 

Fine work.