Julio César Chávez: The Complete Biography of Mexico's Greatest Boxing Legend (1962–2025)

July 12, 1962 – Julio César Chávez González is born in the Obregón Colony, a shantytown outside Culiacán, Sinaloa. He is the youngest of 10 children. His father, Rodolfo Chávez, works as a railroad laborer; his mother, Martha González, raises the family in a home with dirt floors and no running water.

At age 7, Chávez begins boxing in local gyms. By 12 he is sparring with grown men. At 16 he drops out of school to help support the family, shining shoes and fighting in clandestine bouts for $2–$5. His amateur record: 14-1 (13 KOs).

February 5, 1980 – Pro debut vs Miguel Ruiz in Culiacán: TKO Round 1. Chávez fights 44 times in his first four years, winning all 44 (37 KOs). His relentless pressure and body punching earn him the nickname “El León de Culiacán”.

September 13, 1984 – At 22 years old, Chávez wins his first world title: WBC Super Featherweight vs Mario “Azabache” Martínez (TKO Round 8, Los Angeles). Chávez is knocked down in Round 2 but rallies to stop Martínez in front of 20,000 screaming Mexican fans.

Chávez defends the WBC Super Featherweight title 9 times, then moves up to lightweight and wins the WBA and WBC titles, defending them 18 more times. Key victories:

• 1987 – Edwin Rosario (KO 11) – Lineal lightweight title
• 1988 – Roger Mayweather (KO 1)
• 1990 – Meldrick Taylor I (controversial TKO 12, 2 seconds left)
• 1992 – Héctor “Macho” Camacho (UD 12)
• 1993 – Greg Haugen (KO 5) – 132,000 fans at Azteca Stadium, largest boxing crowd ever

Chávez’s record reaches 87-0. He is named Fighter of the Decade (1980s) by Ring Magazine.

1994 – First loss to Frankie Randall (split decision). Chávez wins rematch by technical decision.

1996 – Loss to Oscar De La Hoya (TKO 4) – Chávez’s first clear defeat at age 33.

Addiction struggles begin. Chávez fights on, winning the WBC super lightweight title again in 1998 vs Miguel Ángel González.

Final record: 107 wins (86 KOs), 6 losses, 2 draws. Retires September 17, 2005 after loss to Grover Wiley.

Hall of Fame 2011. 31 successful world title defenses (record for three-division champions). Net worth 2025: $5 million (down from $25M peak due to addiction and divorce).

Sons Omar and Julio César Chávez Jr. both became professional boxers. Chávez Jr. won WBC middleweight title in 2011.

Founder of the Julio César Chávez Foundation – helps at-risk youth in Sinaloa.