Julio Cesar Chavez Vs. Meldrick Taylor - The Fighters

The Fighters

Julio César Chávez was a legend in the making in his native Mexico. Already a three-time world champion in the Jr. Lightweight, Lightweight and Jr. Welterweight divisions, he brought an impressive undefeated record of 68-0 with 55 wins by knockout. That undefeated streak was the longest in nearly 80 years. In many ways Chávez was the epitome of the "Mexican" style of boxing. He patiently but relentlessly stalked and closed in on the other fighter, ignoring whatever punishment he took for the chance to dish out his own at close range, particularly in the form of a crunching body attack that would either wear down his opponents until they collapsed in pain and exhaustion, or became too tired to defend as Chávez shifted his attack to the head and went for a knockout.

Meldrick Taylor was nearly a polar opposite to the methodical Chávez. Taylor was gifted with astounding hand and foot speed and had won an Olympic gold medal at just 17 as a member of the 1984 boxing team which featured future legends such as Evander Holyfield and Pernell Whitaker. Taylor's rise through the professional ranks was also quick, as his speed and reflexes proved to be nearly impossible for his foes to counter. His greatest weakness seemed not to be physical but in his attitude, because despite his relative lack of punching power Taylor had proven to be more than willing to brawl with his opponents, giving them opportunities to hit him that they might not have had otherwise.