The Chacon vs. Limon series of boxing fights between Bobby Chacon and Rafael Limon was a rivalry that made history in the sport. Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight, Bobby Chacon (born November 28, 1951) in Sylmar, CA USA and was a two time world boxing champion Rafael Limón (born ca 1956 is a Mexican former boxer who was a world champion in the Super Featherweight /Jr Many sports historians consider Chacon-Limon to be among boxing's fiercest rivalries, alongside Ali-Frazier, Ali-Norton, Barrera-Morales, Gatti-Ward, Louis-Schmeling, Duran-De Jesus,Leonard-Duran and Leonard-Hearns, to name a few. Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 For the Major League Baseball player and manager see Joe Frazier (baseball. Kenneth Howard Norton Sr (born August 9 1943, Jacksonville Illinois) is a former world champion heavyweight boxer Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia (born January 17, 1974 in Mexico City) is a Mexican professional boxer. Érik Isaac Morales Elvira (born September 1, 1976 in Tijuana, Mexico) is a retired Mexican professional boxer. Arturo "Thunder" Gatti (born April 15, 1972) is an Italian-Canadian former professional boxer. "Irish" Micky Ward (born October 4, 1965) is a retired Junior welterweight professional boxer from Lowell Massachusetts Joseph Louis Barrow ( May 13, 1914 – April 12, 1981) better known as Joe Louis, was a heavyweight boxing champion. Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling ( September 28, 1905 – February 2, 2005) was a German boxer who was heavyweight Roberto Durán (born June 16 1951 is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all-time Esteban De Jesus ( August 2, 1951 - May 11, 1989) was a Puerto Rican world lightweight champion boxer whose life was full Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956) is a retired American professional boxer. The two fights between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns in 1981 and 1989 were among the most eagerly anticipated confrontations
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Prelude
In order to examine this series of fights, a look at the history of relationships between Mexicans living in Mexico and Mexican-Americans (Chicanos) should be undertaken, Chacon is a Chicano, being born and raised in California. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. See also History of Mexican-Americans Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican ancestry Chicano (feminine Chicana) is a politically-loaded word for a Mexican American (in the sense of native-born Americans of Mexican ancestry as opposed to Mexican California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Limon is from Mexico.
It should be noted that Southwest states like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and California were actually part of Northern Mexico before the United States took over those areas after the Mexican-American War. The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the When the United States took over the states that border with Mexico, Hispanics predominated the area. Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically As a consequence, many Mexican families abounded. When the United States took possession (Arizona and New Mexico became states in 1912), the children of Mexicans who lived in these states became, legally speaking, Mexican-Americans.
Later on, other facts to be taken into consideration also took place. The coming of the Hollywood era, for example, should be taken into consideration. Being that Hollywood is in California, and the movie making industry made Hollywood an affluent city, many Hispanics, both Mexicans and Hispanics from other countries, were lured into trying their luck in California. Early Hollywood films, however, were responsible for a racist term used towards Mexicans: the term "greaser", an insulting word to Hispanics, was first used in the 1911 movie "Tony the Greaser", followed by 1914's "The Greaser's Revenge" and 1918's "Guns and Greasers" [1].
Hispanics who came into the United States during the early 20th century were usually farm workers, or had meek jobs when compared to other United States residents. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Racism was considerable in the United States at that time; not only were Blacks relegated in the South, but many western area stores, restaurants and services segregated the Hispanic community as well. List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that Some establishments had billboards that said "No Mexicans" or "No Service to Mexicans", for example, during the period. This may have led to many immigrants, who were already facing trouble with their migratory status in the first place, to not encourage their children to learn proper Spanish. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term Immigration was (and has always been) another issue among Hispanics. Those who learned some English and had no legal status in the United States would use English to, among other reasons, avoid being deported. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States
Because Latin Americans are usually proud of their Hispanic background, many residents of Mexico and every other country in Latin America found it hard to understand why ethnic Hispanics in the United States spoke English mainly. This sometimes led to resentment between their own race. Mexican-Americans began to be known as "Chicanos".
Sports have always been a way for many Hispanics who settle in the United States to gain economic rewards. Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Baseball and boxing in particular have produced famous Hispanic athletes. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each In Latin America things were not too different, with baseball, boxing, soccer and, much later on, basketball, becoming sports in which Hispanics have exceeded. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m
In California, boxing was a favorite sport among Hispanics. Art Aragon was a very famous Chicano boxer, from whom Oscar de la Hoya would later inherit the nickname "The Golden Boy". Art Aragon ( November 13 1927 &ndash March 25 2008) nicknamed "Golden Boy" was a Lightweight professional boxer Oscar de la Hoya (ˈɒskər dɛlə ˈhɔɪə (born February 4 1973 &mdash nicknamed "The Golden Boy" &mdash is an Mexican American boxer Manuel Ortiz, a world Bantamweight champion of the 1940s, held the world record for most defenses in that division for more than fifty years. Manuel Ortiz was one of the very best boxers of the 1940s and was named to Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years. Meanwhile, in Mexico, boxers like "Kid Azteca", (Mexico's first world champion), and, later on, Chucho Castillo and Ruben Olivares, flourished. Luis Villanueva Paramo (June 21 1913 - March 16 2002 was a Mexican boxer best known as Kid Azteca. Jesus Castillo Aguillera (born June 17, 1944 in Nuevo Valle de Moreno) is a former Mexican boxer. Rubén Olivares (born January 14, 1947) is a former boxer of Mexican nationality The Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, under the auspices of Aileen Eaton, became a mecca of sorts for Mexican-American and Mexican fighters alike. Aileen Eaton (1909-1987 was a Boxing promoter who was influential in the United States ' west coast's boxing scene for five decades Many of the earliest fights between Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, already split by the issues that concerned each side, took place there.
By the time that Bobby Chacon and Rafael Limon entered boxing during the 1970s, the boxing rivalry between Mexicans and Mexican-Americans/Chicanos was already a rabid one.
Chacon-Limon I
Bobby Chacon claimed the WBC world Featherweight title on 1974-09-07 in Los Angeles by knocking out Alfredo Marcano in ten rounds. The World Boxing Council was initially created by 11 countries the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. He lost that title when he was knocked out by Olivares on 1975-06-20, also in Los Angeles. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun.
Limon was a raising star in the boxing world at the time; he had become a well known boxer in Mexico.
On 1975-12-07, the first Chacon-Limon encounter took place, in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Mexicali, is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California. Baja California (pronounced ˈbɑːhɑː kælɨˈfɔrnjə in English is the northernmost state of Mexico. Both Chacon and Limon had heavy chances at stake: both were searching for a title try at the Jr. Lightweight division at the time.
The fight was fought at a quick pace from the beginning, with Limon and Chacon throwing quick combinations from the onset. The two boxers did not slow down as rounds went by: fighting at close range, the two boxers hit each other with strong punches down the stretch, leaving most boxing fans with the desire to see them fight again. No knockdowns happened in their first fight, and Limon won on a ten round decision.
Oscar De La Hoya -vs- Julio Cesar Chavez was another great examplee of Chicano V- Mexican
Chacon-Limon II
Chacon-Limon II took place on 1979-04-04 in Los Angeles. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Both boxers were already ranked in the Jr. Lightweight division. At stake were the NABF Super Featherweight (Jr. The North American Boxing Federation (NABF is a not-for-profit regional sanctioning body that awards regional boxing titles Lightweight) title, and, perhaps more importantly, an opportunity to fight Alexis Arguello for the WBC's world Jr. Pro career "The Explosive Thin Man" suffered an unavenged first round TKO loss in his 1968 professional debut but then won 36 of his next 38 bouts which then led him to Lightweight championship (both fighters would challenge Arguello for this title, Chacon was defeated by the Nicaraguan with a seventh round technical knockout, and Limon by an eleventh round technical knockout). Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America Chacon-Limon II was scheduled for twelve rounds, because a regional title was at stake.
Their second fight has been described by some "the best rematch in boxing history". Fighting before a mixed crowd of Chacon and Limon fans, the two boxers once again held a brawl. It was a close fight throughout the seven rounds it lasted, with both fighters exchanging blows at close range. A headbutt, however, caused for the fight to be stopped in round seven. Because the fight was stopped as a consequence of a headbutt and not an actual punch, the three judges' scorecards were brought to declare a winner. As it turned out, the judges had the fight tied, thus the fight was declared a seven round technical draw.
Chacon-Limon III
By the time Chacon-Limon III took place, both fighters had already lost to Arguello. Because of this, the two rivals saw their third fight as a fight they had to win in order to survive among Jr. Lightweight title contenders. While Chacon had already been a world champion, he was known to enjoy "the sweet life", having bought a mansion and some Bentley cars when he was world Featherweight champion; he felt he needed to win another world title in order to provide him and his family for an even better way of life. Bentley Motors Limited is an English manufacturer of luxury Automobiles and Grand Tourers Bentley Motors was founded in England
Limon, on the other side, had never been a world champion. Having lost to Arguello recently, he thought he needed to beat Chacon again in order to stay as a ranked challenger.
Chacon-Limon III came on 1980-03-21 in Los Angeles. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. The two rivals once again fought at a brisk pace, connecting with hard punches and refusing to change the fighting styles both displayed through their careers.
Chacon-Limon III was another close fight, which went into the latter rounds without any of the two combatants holding a significant lead. Ultimately, Chacon's punches proved more telling than Limon's. Chacon won the fight by a ten round split decision, avenging his earlier loss to Limon.
Chacon-Limon IV
The last fight in the Chacon-Limon rivalry was perhaps the most compelling one. Limon had already become WBC world Jr. Lightweight champion twice. He defeated Idelfonso Bethelmy of Venezuela by knockout in fifteen on 1980-12-11 to claim the title vacated by Arguello. Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office After losing the title to Cornelius Boza Edwards by a fifteen round decision on 1981-03-08, he recovered the title by knocking out Edwards' conqueror, Rolando Navarrete, in twelve rounds on 1982-05-29. Cornelius Boza Edwards (born May 27, 1956 in Kampala, Uganda) is a former world Junior Lightweight Boxing champion Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Rolando Navarrete is a Filipino ex-boxer who won the WBC Super featherweight title from Cornelius Boza Edwards in Italy in 1981 Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the
Chacon, meanwhile, had insisted on boxing, dreaming that he would someday become world champion again. His decision to go on with boxing had reportedly caused his first wife, Valerie, to commit suicide months before Chacon-Limon IV. Valerie Chacon (1951 – March 16, 1982) was the wife of world champion boxer Bobby Chacon. Valerie Chacon's suicide provided Bobby Chacon with a perhaps unlikely source of inspiration; he dedicated the fight to his late wife.
Chacon-Limon IV was the only bout between the two fighters where a world title was involved. The fight was held in Sacramento. Ring Magazine heralded this fight as their "fight of the year". The Ring (often called Ring Magazine) is an American Boxing Magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing Keith Jackson was commentating at ringside and the fight was televised live on ABC Wide World of Sports. Keith Jackson (born October 18, 1928) is an American former Sportscaster, known for his long career with ABC Sports television
Limon began the fight quick, combining bolo punches and uppercuts to the body to dominate the first few rounds. With :20sec remaining in the third round Limon scored a knockdown via a stiff straight left counter which caught Chacon, who was knocked off balance and touched both gloves to the canvas. Chacon received an eight count but got up quickly and seemed to be not badly hurt. After this round, however, Chacon began a comeback. Trading punches toe to toe with the champion, Chacon also started to dig to his foe's body and the pace began to tell on Limon.
Limon, however, kept fighting at a furious pace, and, in round ten, he sent Chacon to the floor for a second time. Chacon, however, got up again.
Chacon then proceeded to mount a rally during the last five rounds. His body punches had made an effect on Limon, who began to backpedal for the rest of the fight. While Limon kept throwing from every angle he could, Chacon spent the latter rounds on top of him, outmaneuvering Limon as the two fighters engaged in furious trading. By the end of round fourteen, the fight was seemingly headed to be another draw (tie).
The key moment in the fight came with ten seconds to go in the last round, when Chacon struck suddenly, connecting with a right to Limon's chin and sending Limon to the floor. While Limon got up, a mandatory standing count was carried by the referee, and by the time the fight was allowed to go on, there was only two seconds left in the bout. As it turns out, the knockdown made Chacon a world champion for the second time, just as he had promised his wife and family he would be, when judges Angel L. Guzman and Tamotsu Tomihara gave him the fight by a single point, 142-141 and 141-140 respectively (in boxing, a knockdown usually gives a fighter two extra points in a judge's scorecard, without the knockdown, Chacon would not have won). The third judge, Carlos Padilla, scored the bout 143-141, also for Chacon.
Aftermath
Chacon left the title vacant less than a year later; due to contractual disagreements, he refused to fight top challenger Hector Camacho, opting to challenge Ray Mancini instead for the WBA world Lightweight title. Héctor Camacho (born May 24, 1962) nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini (born Raymond Michael Mancino; March 4, 1961) is an Italian-American former boxer. The World Boxing Association (WBA is a Boxing organization that sanctions official matches and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level Limon then got a chance to become a three time world Jr. Lightweight champion by fighting Camacho for the vacant WBC world title. Limon lost to Camacho by a knockout in five rounds.
Chacon himself lost to Mancini by a knockout in round three. It can be said that the last chapter of the Chacon-Limon rivalry took out what was left between the two fighters.
Chacon later faced alcohol problems and several other situations, such as the murder of his son, Bobby Jr. Alcoholism is a term with multiple and sometimes conflicting definitions He subsequently lost all the money he earned in the ring, and the properties he bought. He currently suffers from dementia pugilistica, and is living with family members. In 2005 Chacon was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall Canastota is a Village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County New York, United States.
Despite many attempts at becoming a title challenger again, Limon could not achieve this goal. He lost most of his fights after the fourth installment of his series with Chacon, including bouts against Julio César Chávez and Roger Mayweather. Julio César Chávez González (born July 12, 1962 in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora) is a retired Mexican professional boxer Roger Mayweather (born April 24, 1961) is a retired professional boxer. Limon currently lives in Mexico.
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