BoxRec

On December 11, 1982 at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, CA, Bobby Chacon became world champion for the second time after being stopped 7 years earlier by the great Ruben Olivares. But, in this fight, it was probably his most gutsiest performance against one of his most notorious foes, Rafael "Bazooka" Limon of Mexico. Limon lost his WBC World Super Featherweight title against his nemesis Chacon. It was their fourth and final war between them. It was a classic Mexican vs Chicano rivalry. Limon won the first fight. They drew in a technical decision on the second fight, and Chacon won the third and fourth fights.

Chacon, 31, of Los Angeles, CA, was not in his prime, but, he still had much more to fight. He tried to take the great Alexis Arguello's WBC World Jr Lightweight Title in 1979 but got blasted in 7 rounds. He was considered finished by many, even though he gave all that he got. He was getting hit much easier at each fight in which his wife, at one time, asked him to retire. He did not retire. He kept on. But, because of it, his wife committed suicide.

It was probably, along with Leonard-Hearns I and Satchawal-Monshipour fights, as the best fight that I have seen in my lifetime. The pace was terrific. The will and determination of both men were tops. The hatred for each other didn't allow none of the two to give in to their most hated foe. For 15 brutal and unforgettable rounds, it was a classic war. Limon dropped Chacon in the 3rd and also in the 10th round. The fight was even on my scorecards 95-95 after 10 rounds. After the tenth round, it was all Chacon! He was inspired by the crowd that was rooting for him. He was in his backyard of California. Nobody was rooting for Bazooka. From the twelfth round on, Chacon was winning with right leads and withstanding Bazooka's bombs. What a fight. Ten seconds left in the fight, they were toe to toe and Chacon dropped Limon with a right lead. This decided the fight if it was a close battle. And it did. Chacon did enough to close the show, and deservedly so, became the WBC Super Featherweight Champion of the World!
After 7 years, he became world champion again. But, this time in great fashion. Both fighters' faces looked like bloodbaths. Chacon had a split in the middle of his nose. Bazooka had both of his eyes almost shut. They received also a big payday. It was surreal of what happened. The year 1982, even though, we lost two of boxing's greatest superstars, was a magnificent year of unforgettable fights.

Remember the drama of Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield, Round 10?

It was 1992 Round of the Year.

Bowe hurts Holyfield badly, and somehow Holyfield stays on his feet, and rallies back to hurt Bowe badly and they battle fiercely to the end of the round.


Now picture damn near every round of a 15 round fight being that dramatic, and you got Chacon vs Limon IV.

Two totally fearless men, giving it all they had.

Hard to top that one.


Don't believe me? Just watch:

Still my favorite fight ever.

Chain had to train like a demon to survive the pounding, the knockdown, and still suck it up and beat Limon.

And training hard was a foreign concept to the 1970s version of Chacon, who had everything except dedication.

By the time he fought Limon for the final time, Chacon had lost some of his extraordinary speed, movement and defense. He had instead become more of a grind it out stationary slugger.

The heart he didn't always display when he was younger was on full display in bout #4 against Limon.

He survived a beating, several knockdown and somehow floored Limon in the closing seconds of the 15th round to earn a narrow decision.

A classic, savage brawl.

You would have figured that fight would leave Chacon's body empty. That there would be nothing left and when he next stepped into the ring he would merely be a shell of a fighter.

But amazingly Chacon found the same desire and guts the very next year when he again took on the bigger, stronger Boza-Edwards.

The Ugandan had knocked out Chacon several years earlier and was a solid favorite to turn the trick again.

But Chacon displayed the same toughness and heart he showed 6 month earlier against Limon.

The fighters exchanged 2 knockdowns apiece, and Chacon, bleeding profusely from eye cuts, was on the verge of being stopped several times.

But he withstood Boza-Edwards, knocked him down in the final round and earned a unanimous decision.

It was the 1983 Fight of the Year.

It was a great year for 1982 in classic fights:
Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney
Aaron Pryor vs Alexis Arguello I
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini vs Deuk Koo Kim
Salvador Sanchez vs Azumah Nelson
Leonardo "Leo" Cruz vs Sergio Palma II
Wilfredo Gomez vs Lupe Pintor
And this one of Chacon-Limon IV completed the year with some extraordinary fights. Even though the great Sugar Ray Leonard retired and Sanchez' death gave us big void, still, the year 1982 was a great year for boxing.

Chacon vs Limon IV was The Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1982.

Probably in my top 3 of all time

I forgot Chacon v Limón and Gomez v Pintor were in the same year. Two of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen.