After building up to this fight for four years, Chavez main evented on a pay-per-view for the first time–the biggest non-heavyweight fight since Hagler-Leonard. In this fight, he won a convincing decision over #2 contender Camacho (41-1-0, 18 KOs) to retain his WBC light welterweight title.
THE UNDERCARD – Michael Nunn won the WBA super middleweight title with a split decision over Victor Cordoba. Heavyweight Tony Tucker won a ten-round decision over Everett Martin. Frankie Randall knocked out Juan Carlos Nunez in two. Francesco Damiani won a ten-round decision over Greg Page.
THE OPPONENT – The southpaw Hector Camacho of Puerto Rico had a successful amateur career before turning pro in 1980. In 1981, he won the NABF super featherweight title and two years later won the WBC version of the title by beating Rafael “Bazooka” Limon with a fifth round TKO. In 1985, he moved up to win the NABF lightweight title with a decision over Roque Montoya, and then beat Jose Luis Ramirez just a few months later to win the WBC title. In a defense of that title the following year, Camacho faced Edwin Rosario. It was a fight that many say changed the way Camacho fought, making him more defensive and cautious after being exposed to Rosario’s power. The close split decision was also controversial, but Camacho came out as the victor. He closed the year by beating Cornelius Boza-Edwards and added a few more wins to his record before beating Ray Mancini to win the WBO light welterweight title in 1989. After two successfully defenses against Vinny Pazienza and Tony Balthazar, Camacho suffered his first defeat when he lost a split decision to Greg Haugen in 1991 (a fight in which many believe he was robbed). However, Haugen tested positive for marijuana after the bout, so the bout was declared to be a No Contest and Camacho did not lose his title. The rematch a few months later was again a split decision, but this time in Camacho’s favor, so he was finally set for the match with Chavez that they had both wanted for so long.
After losing a shot at Felix Trinidad’s IBF welterweight title in 1994, Camacho had trouble finding good opponents who were willing to fight him, but he did pick up the minor IBC welterweight title. In 1996, he moved up in weight and won a battle with Roberto Duran for the vacant IBC middleweight title. He also convinced Sugar Ray Leonard to come out of retirement the following year and TKO’ed him in the fifth. However, his next match (for the WBC welterweight title) was with a great fighter in his prime–Oscar De la Hoya. Camacho made it the full twelve rounds but lost a shut-out decision. He had remained active, winning all his fights except for a draw with Jorge Vaca in ‘99 and a surprise technical decision loss in 2003 to Chris Walsh. His current record is 78-5-2 (38).
ROUND ONE – Chavez came out aggressively, perhaps thinking he’d be able to knock out Camacho right away. Camacho started with jerky movements, not fully warmed up or prepared for Chavez coming in on him so quickly. Within the first ninety seconds of the fight Chavez had already been warned for a low blow on Camacho’s hip, Camacho had already been warned for shoving Chavez, and Camacho had already initiated the first clinch. Chavez was able to land the straight right a few times this round, but Camacho landed his jab slightly more often, moving around the ring to keep his distance.
CORNER – In Camacho’s corner were trainer Rudy Mata, assistant trainer Aaron Snowell and cutmen Ismael Leandry. In Chavez’s corner were trainer Cristobal Rosas, assistant trainer J. “Buffalo” Martin, Rodolfo Chavez and Daniel Castro.
ROUND TWO – At the beginning of this round, Chavez started being more successful at cutting off the ring, getting Camacho on the ropes at times and landing a few hooks to his head. When caught in the corners, Camacho tried clinching to defend himself and to spin out of the way, but Chavez would have none of it and kept throwing punches. None of the punches were landing very flush on Camacho, though, and he responded mostly with the jab.
ROUND THREE – Chavez was a little less aggressive this round, allowing Camacho to move around more freely and get in more punches. Chavez was relying mostly on his straight right, which landed flush and knocked Camacho’s head back a couple of times during the round.
ROUND FOUR – Camacho came out with a combo, but Chavez came right back at him, finally starting to work the body rather than headhunting. Halfway into the round Camacho landed a good left uppercut, but Chavez remained unaffected. Though Chavez controlled most of the round, Camacho was still landing a number of punches and got in a combination just before the bell. Chavez had a slight cut over the bridge of his nose–a cut which often showed up in his matches.
ROUND FIVE – Camacho continued moving laterally. He got in a good straight left and some counter punches but wasn’t throwing enough. Chavez was able to get in more shots, including a number of body punches while Camacho was against the ropes. Another round with a significant amount of clinching by Camacho.
ROUND SIX – Chavez started focused on the body but was warned by the referee for low blows and started going back to the head also in combination. Camacho was being hit a lot this round, and thus clinching a lot also. He wasn’t throwing nearly enough punches to win the round but was taking the punches very well. He was bleeding a little from the right nostril at the end of the round.
ROUND SEVEN – Camacho, realizing he needed to start winning more rounds, came out more active and landed in combos at the start of the round. However, Chavez was landing the harder punches to both the head and body, which lessened Camacho’s punch output throughout the round. Camacho’s left eye was also a little swollen already by the end of the round.
ROUND EIGHT – Camacho again landed at the beginning of the round and then clinched when Chavez started attacking him with body punches. The clinching was more effective now, as Chavez was not fighting his way out of them but letting the referee break them and warn Camacho for holding. Camacho landed another good combo in the middle of the round. There was a small cut under Camacho’s left eye, which was now swollen more.
ROUND NINE – Camacho did not have his mouthpiece in when the bell rang and needed a few extra seconds to get ready before the round could begin. Chavez saw the weakness and started battering his opponent. The commentators, who were either very pro-Chavez or perhaps just anti-Camacho hadn’t given Camacho much credit so far in the fight and were now saying that they expected the fight to be stopped soon. However, Camacho was still throwing and defending himself as well as he could, and they seemed appeased when he started throwing more, giving it everything he had, even though most of his punches didn’t have any power on them. By the end of the round, the swelling around his left eye had progressed to where it was almost shut.
ROUND TEN – Camacho came out throwing punches again. He continued clinching when Chavez came in to fight so he could control the fight with his own punches. Though the action had slowed down a lot this round, the commentators seemed to have retained a little respect for Camacho from the last round and just for still being in the fight. At the end of the round, Camacho also had a cut over his right eye.
ROUND ELEVEN – The action was again more subdued this round. For most of the round, Chavez was unable to get in more than one or two punches before Camacho clinched. For his own part, Camacho threw a few combos during the round but was mainly focused on defense. Towards the end of the round, Chavez was able to get Camacho against the ropes a couple of times and land a series of good punches on the already visibly battered Camacho.
ROUND TWELVE – The fighters touched gloves, and Chavez began throwing more again. Camacho remained on the defense, moving around the ring and clinching when caught against the ropes. Camacho was still throwing punches, but it was nothing to match Chavez’s stronger and more precise punching. By the end of the fight, Camacho’s face corresponded closely to the scorecards. It was a shut-out decision, and his left eye was swollen shut. But after it was all over, the fighters embraced and were able to show their respect for each other.
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center
Title: WBC Junior Welterweight
Scheduled: 12 Rounds
Referee: Richard Steele
Judge: Dalby Shirley 117-111
Judge: Carol Castellano 119-110
Judge: Harry Gibbs 120-107
Promoter: Don King
Broadcast: KingVision / Showtime PPV
Announcer: Jimmy Lennon, Jr.
Commentator: Steve Albert
Commentator: Ferdie Pacheco
Commentator: Bobby Czyz
Attendance: 19,100