Chavez Elected to Hall of Fame‏‏

Press Release by WBC

CANASTOTA, NY – DECEMBER 7, 2010 - The International Boxing Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to announce Mexico’s legendary three-division champion Julio Cesar Chavez has been elected into the Hall of Fame.

“We’re very excited for Julio Cesar Chavez and the Hall of Fame is very much looking forward to honoring his many achievements with induction into the Hall of Fame,” said Executive Director Edward Brophy. “His accomplishments will be recognized during the annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend set for June 9-12th.”

Over 20 events, including a golf tournament, banquet, parade and autograph card show, are planned. An impressive celebrity lineup of boxing greats of yesterday and today will attend this year’s Induction Weekend. Chavez will receive a gold Hall of Fame ring and a plaque with his biography and photograph will be on permanent display on the Hall of Fame Wall. The Official Enshrinement Ceremony will be held on the Hall of Fame Museum Grounds in Canastota, NY, USA on Sunday, June 12th.

Born July 12, 1962, Chavez turned pro in 1980. Undefeated at 43-0, he stopped Mario Martinez (KO 8) in 1984 for the WBC super featherweight title. Nine successful defenses followed before beating Edwin Rosario (TKO 11) for the WBA lightweight title in 1987. He added the WBC version with a win over Jose Luis Ramirez (TW 11) in 1988. Chavez became a three-division world champion when he won the WBC junior welterweight crown from Roger Mayweather (TKO 10) in 1989. His impressive string of 12 title defenses included wins over Hector Camacho and Greg Haugen in front of a record crowd of 132,274 fans and, in 1990, he stopped IBF king Meldrick Taylor with 2 seconds left in the fight to unify titles. Chavez moved up in weight and drew with WBC welterweight champion Pernell Whitaker in a 1993 title go. After compiling an 89-0-1 record, he lost the WBC junior welter title to Frankie Randall in 1994 (L 12). He reclaimed the title in the rematch (TW 8) and reigned until losing to Oscar De La Hoya in 1996 (TKO by 4). Chavez retired in 2005 with a professional record of 107-6-2 (88 KOs). During his career, he registered wins over Ruben Castillo, Sammy Fuentes, Rocky Lockridge, Juan LaPorte, Tony Lopez and Joey Gamache. Possessor of a great chin, Chavez used a relentless, aggressive style and vicious body attack to became a national hero in Mexico and one of the most popular fighters in history.

Other living honorees include junior welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu, heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, referee Joe Cortez and screenwriter Sylvester Stallone.

The Hall of Fame also released names of posthumous honorees: bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root and welterweight and middleweight Dave Shade in the Old-Timer Category; promoter A.F. Bettinson in the Non-Participant Category; broadcaster Harry Carpenter in the Observer Category; and John Gully in the Pioneer Category. Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians.

For more information on the events planned for the 2011 International Boxing Hall of Fame Weekend, please call the Hall of Fame at (315) 697-7095 or visit http://www.ibhof.com/.

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“I am honored and I feel humble. At this moment in my life, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is very special. I feel great to know that my name will be inscribed with the best of the best, to join some of my heroes and to leave a mark for my family and my country.”
- Julio Cesar Chavez

“Julio Cesar Chavez is an all-time great boxer and a national hero in Mexico. A three-division world champion with over 100 victories, Chavez has left an indelible mark on boxing history.”
- Edward Brophy, Executive Director, Boxing Hall of Fame

“Anytime a man can amass the type of record he had fighting top competition for all those years before losing his first fight is amazing. He was a tremendous body puncher. His punches vibrated all the way through your body and he would systematically break you down with wicked body shots.”
- Emanuel Steward, 1996 Hall of Fame Inductee

“Without question, he had my vote a long time ago! He demonstrated what it is like to be a fighter in the ring and was a fan favorite and a winner.”
- Sugar Ray Leonard, 1997 Hall of Fame Inductee

“What a class kid he was. We could use a guy like him right now. A great body puncher and a great ring technician, he could box as well as punch. The people just loved him and he was great for the fans.”
- Angelo Dundee, 1992 Hall of Fame Inductee

Article & Photo: WBC