Kostya Tszyu vs. Julio César Chávez

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
A Matter of Pride
Tszyu vs Chavez.jpg
DateJuly 29, 2000
Venue Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Title(s) on the line WBC super lightweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Kostya Tszyu Julio César Chávez
Nickname Thunder from Down UnderEl Gran Campeón Mexicano
("The Great Mexican Champion")
Hometown Serov, Ural, Russia Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, Mexico
Purse $1,200,000 $1,200,000
Pre-fight record 24–1 (1) (20 KO) 103–4–2 (84 KO)
Age 30 years, 10 months 38 years
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight139+12 lb (63 kg) 140 lb (64 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition WBC
Super Lightweight Champion
WBC
No. 1 Ranked Super Lightweight
3-division World Champion
Result
Tszyu wins by 6th-round technical knockout

Kostya Tszyu vs. Julio César Chávez , billed as A Matter of Pride, was a professional boxing match contested on July 29, 2000, for the WBC super lightweight title. [1]

Contents

Background

In June 2000, it was announced that reigning WBC super lightweight champion would make the next defense of his title the following month in Phoenix, Arizona against former 2-time super lightweight champion Julio César Chávez. The announcement was met with controversy as it was felt that the soon-to-be-38-year old Chávez, who the WBC had ranked as their number-one super lightweight contender and, as such, Tszyu's mandatory challenger, was severely outmatched by Tszyu, who was 8 years younger and in the prime of his professional career. Jay Larkin, vice president of Showtime's sports programming and executive producer of Showtime Championship Boxing openly acknowledged that he was "not at all happy" about the fight being made and offered his opinion that he "did not think Chávez should be the No. 1 contender." [2] Furthermore, then-Arizona senator John McCain, a noted detractor of combat sports, wrote a letter to Arizona governor Jane Dee Hull in which he called the fight "an illegitimate and potentially dangerous mismatch" in a failed attempt to have the fight cancelled. [3]

In order to get approved for the fight, Chávez had to submit the results of a medical exam and plead his case in person to the Arizona Boxing Commission. After 90-minute hearing in which Chávez pleaded to the committee to let him "go out with dignity and honor", the commission granted him a boxing license to fight in the state, officially putting the fight on. [4] Entering the fight, Chávez was such a heavy underdog that Las Vegas casinos refused to post odds for the fight. [5]

The Fight

After an uneventful start to the fight, Tszyu took control in fifth round. Chávez slipped and fell early in the round and after getting back up, was beaten badly by Tszyu who opened up a cut on Chávez's forehead after landing a five-punch combination. Tszyu carried the momentum into the sixth and sent Chávez down for only the second time in his career with a right hand. Though Chávez answered the referee's 10-count, he was soon pinned against the ropes and after Tszyu landed several blows to his head, the referee stopped the fight halfway point of the round, giving Tszyu the victory by technical knockout. [6]

Fight card

Confirmed bouts: [7]

Weight ClassWeightvs.MethodRoundNotes
Super Lightweight140 lbs. Kostya Tszyu (c)def. Julio César Chávez TKO6/12 Note 1
Super Lightweight140 lbs. Héctor Camacho Jr. (c)def. Phillip Holiday TD-U6/12 Note 2
Welterweight147 lbs.Jose Luis Cruzdef.Leonard TownsendTKO9/12 Note 3
Cruiserweight190 lbs. Vassiliy Jirov def.Earl ButlerTKO7/12
Lightweight135 lbs. Roberto Garcia def.Sandro MarcosUD8/8
Super Welterweight154 lbs.Ben Cramptondef.Tony MartinezSD6/6
Heavyweight200+ lbs. Siarhei Liakhovich def.Anthony CurryKO1/6

^Note 1 For WBC Super Lightweight title
^Note 2 For NABA Super Lightweight title
^Note 3 For WBC Continental Americas Welterweight title

Broadcasting

CountryBroadcaster
Flag of the United States.svg  United States Showtime

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez</span> Mexican boxer (born 1962)

Julio César Chávez González, also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight titles between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991. He also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Laporte</span> Puerto Rican boxer

Juan Laporte, also known as Juan La Porte is a former boxer who was born in Guayama, Puerto Rico. In 1982, La Porte won the vacant WBC featherweight title, forcing undefeated Colombian Mario "Martillo" Miranda to quit on his stool. Throughout his 22-year-long career, La Porte fought some of the greatest fighters of each decade, including Hall of Fame members Salvador Sanchez, Eusebio Pedroza, Azumah Nelson, Wilfredo Gomez, Barry McGuigan, Kostya Tszyu & Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. He retired in 1999 with a record of 40–16, with many of his losses being highly competitive, and sometimes controversial, affairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Boxing Council</span> Sanctioning organization for professional boxing bouts

The World Boxing Council (WBC) is an international professional boxing organization. It is among the four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kostya Tszyu</span> Russian-Australian boxer (born 1969)

Konstantin Borisovich "Kostya" Tszyu is a Russian-Australian former professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2005. He held multiple world championships in the light-welterweight division, including the undisputed and lineal titles between 2001 and 2005. Tszyu was an exceptional all-around boxer-puncher who relied heavily on accuracy, timing, and carried formidable punching power; he is often regarded as one of the hardest-punching light-welterweights in the division's history.

Kostya Tszyu vs. Sharmba Mitchell II, billed as Unfinished Business, was a professional boxing match which took place on November 6, 2004 at the Glendale Arena, Glendale, Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse James Leija</span> American boxer

James Leija, best known as Jesse James Leija, is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2005. He held the WBC super featherweight title in 1994, and challenged twice each for world titles at lightweight and light welterweight.

Light welterweight, also known as junior welterweight or super lightweight, is a weight class in combat sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Mayweather</span> American boxer (1960–2020)

Roger L. Mayweather was an American professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and later on a boxing trainer. He was a two-division world champion, having held the WBA and The Ring super featherweight titles from 1983 to 1984, and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987 to 1989. Additionally he held the IBO light welterweight title in 1994, and the IBO welterweight title from 1994 to 1995.

Miguel Ángel González Dávila, also known as Excelente compañero, is a Mexican professional boxer who held the world lightweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Zbik vs. Julio César Chávez Jr.</span> Boxing competition

Sebastian Zbik vs. Julio César Chávez Jr., billed as "La Hora De la Verdad", was a professional boxing match contested on June 4, 2011, for the WBC Middleweight championship. It has been the first time that the son of legendary boxing Champion Julio César Chávez, fought for a world title. The bout was on June 4, 2011, at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California and was broadcast on HBO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Tyson vs. Alex Stewart</span> Boxing competition

Mike Tyson vs. Alex Stewart, billed as The Hard Way Back, was a professional boxing match contested on December 8, 1990. It was Tyson's second fight since losing the undisputed world heavyweight championship earlier in the year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Oscar De La Hoya</span> Boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Oscar De La Hoya, billed as Ultimate Glory, was a professional boxing match contested on June 7, 1996, for the WBC super lightweight championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez</span> Boxing match

Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez, billed as The Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on September 10, 1993, for the WBC welterweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Meldrick Taylor II</span> Boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Meldrick Taylor II, billed as Unfinished Business, was a professional boxing match contested on September 17, 1994, for the WBC super lightweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Héctor Camacho</span> Boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Héctor Camacho, billed as Ultimate Glory: The Fight for it All, was a professional boxing match contested on September 12, 1992, for the WBC super lightweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Frankie Randall</span> Boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Frankie Randall was a professional boxing match contested on January 29, 1994, for the WBC super lightweight title. The fight was the featured bout on a Don King-promoted boxing card dubbed the Super Grand Slam of Boxing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Randall vs. Julio César Chávez II</span> Boxing match

Frankie Randall vs. Julio César Chávez II was a professional boxing match contested on May 7, 1994, for the WBC super lightweight title. The fight was the featured bout on a boxing card promoted by Don King dubbed the Revenge: The Rematches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Greg Haugen</span> Boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Greg Haugen was a professional boxing match contested on February 20, 1993, for the WBC super lightweight title. The fight was the featured bout on a boxing card promoted by Don King dubbed the The Grand Slam of Boxing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwin Rosario vs. Julio César Chávez</span> Boxing match

Edwin Rosario vs. Julio César Chávez was a professional boxing match contested on November 21, 1987, for the WBA lightweight title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julio César Chávez vs. Tony Lopez</span> Professional boxing match

Julio César Chávez vs. Tony Lopez was a professional boxing match contested on December 10, 1994, for the WBC super lightweight title. The fight was the featured bout on a boxing card promoted by Don King dubbed Noches de Campeones.

References

  1. "Kostya Tszyu vs. Julio Cesar Chavez". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. Old Chavez Approved For Risky Title Shot, NY Times article, 2000-06-08 Retrieved on 2024-10-04
  3. Bout Has McCain Fighting Mad, NY Daily News article, 2000-06-02 Retrieved on 2024-10-04
  4. Chavez to fight Tszyu in Arizona, Associated Press article, 2000-06-04 Retrieved on 2024-10-05
  5. Chavez to Face Tszyu In Controversial Bout, NY Times article, 2000-07-29 Retrieved on 2024-10-04
  6. Chavez Caught By Age and Tszyu In Sixth Round, NY Times article, 2000-07-30 Retrieved on 2024-10-05
  7. "BoxRec - event".
Preceded by Kostya Tszyu's bouts
29 July 2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Julio César Chávez's bouts
29 July 2000
Succeeded by
vs. Terry Thomas