After rising from two knockdowns, Ramírez rallied back to stagger Rosario in the third round. Ramírez lost a close 12 round unanimous decision, but on November 3, of 1984, he and Rosario had a rematch, also in San Juan. ![]() Ramírez won his following 10 bouts and on May 1, 1983, he was given the chance at becoming world Lightweight champion for the first time, when he fought Puerto Rican Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the World Boxing Council's championship. By then, Ramírez and Julio César Chávez were gymmates and friends. He then faced Ray Mancini for the North American Lightweight belt, and lost a 12 round decision in Ohio. Ramírez dropped Argüello for the first time in his career in round six, but lost a disputed ten round split decision in Miami. In 1978, as a Featherweight, a 19 year old Ramírez lost by knockout for the only time in his career to legendary three time former world champion Rubén Olivares in two rounds.Īfter his move in weight to the Lightweights, 21-year-old Ramírez accumulated a record of 67-2, and met another boxing legend inside the ring, when he fought Alexis Argüello. He climbed slowly but steadily on boxing's rankings. (Part 2: Wilfredo Gomez vs.José Luis Ramírez (born December 3, 1958) is a Mexican former professional boxer who was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.Ī native of Huatabampo, Sonora and a resident of Culiacán, Ramírez made his professional debut on Maat the age of 15. In the midst of a comeback after a five-year layoff that included a year in jail for petty theft, Rosario died of an aneurysm in Puerto Rico in 1997 at 34, a decade after the classic brawl that put Chavez on the map and added an exciting new chapter to the ongoing saga of the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry. Rosario would eventually be voted into the Hall as well, but his career was tarnished by drug and alcohol addictions and a tragic early death. The fans had gotten their money’s worth despite Chavez’s lopsided victory - and had witnessed the ascension of boxing’s newest star.ĬHECK OUT OUR NEW APP: GET THE DAILY NEWS ON ANDROID & iOSįormer three-time lightweight champ Rosario represented his native Puerto Rico well, but his Hall of Fame career was marred by drug and alcohol abuse and helped lead to his death at 34.Ĭhavez had made good on his pre-fight boast that he would surprise everyone because no one had seen “the real Julio Cesar Chavez.” That reality would translate into a Hall of Fame career spanning a remarkable 25 years, with a 107-6-2 final record (86 KO) and a litany of achievements that include the most title fights (37) and consecutive title defenses (27), plus the longest consecutive undefeated streak in boxing history - Chavez went 87-0 to start his career, a winning streak that lasted 13 years. With just seconds left, and with Rosario’s left eye swollen shut and blood soaking through his mouthpiece, the referee mercifully halted the action and handed Chavez the win. The two went toe-to-toe for most of the fight, but the Mexican challenger was way ahead in the scoring when they entered the 11th round. The Puerto Rican champ fought gamely and displayed tremendous heart and spirit, but he was no match for Chavez on this day. The fight wore on for nearly 11 punishing rounds - with Rosario receiving most of the punishment. Right from the first round, Chavez came in tight against his opponent and rarely backpedaled, using a blend of devastating body shots and relentless pressure that wore Rosario down and never gave him a chance to flash his famous power. Yet as soon as the fight started, the boxing world almost immediately saw what Mexican fans already knew: Chavez was the complete package a wily, fundamentally-sound boxer who combined ring savvy with strong skills and an iron chin. ![]() Experts agree Julio Cesar Chavez wasn’t just the greatest Mexican boxer of all time, he was one of the best prizefighters ever.
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