Julio Cesar Chavez carved out one of the most legendary boxing careers in a take-your-pick of gaudy accomplishments. The three-division world champion compiled an incredible 107-6-2 record (86 knockouts) in a career that included an absurd 87-fight winning streak, 37 title fights and 27 successful title defenses as an easy bet to make anyone's top boxers list. And on this day exactly 30 years ago on March 17, 1990, Chavez pulled off one of his greatest feats yet — a rousing rally for a 12th-round TKO of Meldrick Taylor in their junior welterweight title unification fight. Here, we look back on one of Chavez's most memorable wins ... although it wasn't controversy-free.
How Chavez vs. Taylor came together
Julio Cesar Chavez had the boxing world on fire, as he had a 68-0 record when the March 17, 1990 bout was made against tough Meldrick Taylor at the Las Vegas Hilton in Winchester, Nevada. On the line was Chavez's WBC, Taylor's IBF and the then-vacant lineal junior welterweight titles. Chavez, then 27-years-old, was coming off a third-round TKO of Alberto de las Mercedes Cortes. Meanwhile, Taylor was also undefeated at the time at 24-0-1, having blasted Ramon Flores in a first-round TKO less than two months before the Chavez bout. Prior to becoming the IBF world champion via a 12th-round TKO of Buddy McGirt in September 1988, Taylor had also earned an Olympic gold medal in 1984.
March 17, 1990: Chavez vs. Taylor recap
Taylor came out of his corner and was able to assert his jab before Chavez. He then began stringing together combinations, and he got the best of Chavez for most of the first eight rounds. Not wanting to see his win streak snapped, Chavez dug deep over the final four rounds and badly started damaging Taylor's face with heavy shots. The Mexican boxing legend had battered Taylor to the point where at the end of the 11th round, the fading Philly fighter nearly walked into Chavez's corner. Still, thanks to his body of work earlier in the fight, Taylor was leading on two of three judges' scorecards entering the final round.
That 12th round had the two fatigued fighters slugging it out during some sequences, but Chavez wobbled Taylor with a right hand and then detonated a right hook that crashed across Taylor's jaw and dropped the Philadelphia fighter with a thud with 16 seconds left. Spent and bloody, Taylor valiantly got to his feet, and referee Richard Steele registered the standing-eight count. But after doing so, Steele didn't see enough life from Taylor and stopped the fight with an agonizing two seconds left until the final bell. Taylor's trainer, Lou Duva, threw an absolute fit, as he believed that if Steele didn't stop the fight, Taylor had done enough to have his hand raised in victory.
It wasn't controversy-free, but Chavez's historic win streak was extended to 69-0.
The aftermath
After escaping Las Vegas with a comeback TKO win against Taylor, Chavez went on to record 18 more victories, building his record to a dazzling 87-0. But the late, great Pernell Whitaker changed that in September 1993, when he battled Chavez to a thrilling majority draw. Chavez would get back to his winning ways over his next two bouts, but suffered his first pro loss to underdog Frankie Randall, who took a split decision in their January 1994 bout.
Chavez rebounded to defeat Randall less than four months later and beat Taylor again (eighth-round TKO) in September 1994, before eventually suffering his second pro loss to a young Oscar De La Hoya in June 1996. Chavez, refusing to call it quits, would box over the next nine years and build his record to 107-6-2, fighting his last bout in September 2005 at the age of 43.
One can argue that Taylor was never the same following his first loss to Chavez. Although he became WBA welterweight champion less than a year later, the punishment he sustained against Chavez definitely took its toll.
Still, nobody could say that their initial clash wasn't a Fight of the Year and instant classic.