BoxRec

Fight took place on Nov. 21, 1987, some 19 years ago exactly.

Was this Julio's finest performance in the ring?

Be interesting to hear people's memories of the fight?

It was the fight that would decide if Chavez was as good as was being touted. It was the step from a top fighter to a great fighter.

The 135 division was considered to be very strong at the time. Rosario, Bramble, Paul, Haugen, Camacho, Ramirez, Pazienza were all good fighters. Whittaker and Taylor were coming through and there were a few veterans like Boza-Edwards, Limon and Davis still kicking around the division.

What was surprising at the time was the way in which Chavez pretty much dominated Rosario for the whole fight.

His TKO2 win over Roger Mayweather in 1985 was also an impressive blowout from what I recall.

JCC did indeed look bazzing that night; despite his apparent in-corner distress El Chapo landed some fvcking spot-on punches, heavy shots, the same that ruined the psyche of Camacho. Chavez shook them off and snapped him in half.

Should've been stopped sooner, but brutal, compelling stuff; a bit reminiscent of Manny Pac's recent outings where he fvcks the other guy up so completely that your hindbrain starts thinking "Shit he can't be beat..."

Which is an illusion, of course. But such a compelling one...

I remember Rosario looked like he'd been in a car crash after the fight, Chavez just hammered him. At that time Chavez was awesome, before the inevitable slide and before he started refereeing his own fights.

I don't have the fight on tape now.
But I watched it a number of times when I did.
The Chavez inside attack to the body was superb as I remember it.