Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez

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The Fight
DateSeptember 10, 1993
VenueAlamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Pernell Whitaker Julio César Chávez
Nickname Sweet Pea J.C.
Hometown Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Purse $3,000,000 $5,000,000
Pre-fight record 32–1 (15 KO) 87–0 (75 KO)
Height 5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm) 5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Weight 145 lb (66 kg) 142 lb (64 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition WBC welterweight champion
The Ring No. 2 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
4-division world champion		 WBC super lightweight champion
The Ring No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion
Result
12-round majority draw (115–113, 115–115, 115–115)

Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez, billed as The Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on September 10, 1993, for the WBC welterweight title.

Background

Immediately following Pernell Whitaker's victory over Buddy McGirt on March 6, 1993, it was announced that a deal had been reached that would see Whitaker face reigning WBC light welterweight champion Julio César Chávez.[1] The deal had been made prior to the McGirt–Whitaker bout and was to have happened regardless if Whitaker won or lost. Had Whitaker lost, his fight against Chávez would have been a unification bout for Whitaker's IBF light welterweight title and Chávez's WBC light welterweight title, but Whitaker's victory ensure the fight would instead be for his newly won WBC welterweight title instead.[2] At the insistence of Chávez, the fight was held at a catch-weight of 145 pounds, two pounds under the official welterweight limit of 147 pounds.[3]

The fight was highly anticipated as Chávez was the number one fighter on The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound list and Whitaker was number two. It was the first time in the history of The Ring magazine's pound-for-pound list that the two top ranked fighters on the pound-for-pound list had faced each other.[4] When asked about becoming the number one fighter in the pound-for-pound rankings Whitaker stated "That is the title every man dreams of. This fight is the World Series, Super Bowl, NBA finals. It's boxing's two best fighters."[5]

The fight

In one of the most disputed decisions in boxing history, the fight was declared a majority draw. Whitaker used his slick boxing skills to control the fight as Chávez had trouble landing punches consistently. Whitaker would dominate with his jab landing 130 to Chávez's face, and had the edge in overall punches with 311 punches landed compared to 220 for Chávez. However, when the fight went to the judge's scorecards only one judge, Jack Woodruff, had scored the fight in Whitaker's favor at 115–113. The other two judges, Mickey Vann and Franz Marti, would score the fight even at 115–115.[6]

Scorecards

Virtually every scorecard from the press had Whitaker as the clear winner

  • Associated Press: 116–112
  • Newsday: 116–112
  • The Ring Magazine: 117–111
  • Sports Illustrated: 117–111
  • Washington Post: 115–113

Controversy and aftermath

There was immediate outrage over the result with many publications feeling that Whitaker had been robbed of a victory. Most notably, the September 20, 1993 issue of Sports Illustrated featured Whitaker on the cover with the headline "ROBBED!."[7] Virtually all of the blame was heaped on the two WBC appointed judges Mickey Vann of England and Franz Marti of Switzerland whom were accused of being selected by Chávez's promoter Don King and WBC president (and Chávez's countryman) José Sulaimán solely to protect Chávez. The selection of lone American judge who had scored the fight in favor of Whitaker Jack Woodruff had been protested by Sulaimán, King and Chávez but they eventually relented. Said Whitaker's manager and trainer Lou Duva of the judges, "Vann and Marti are W.B.C. officials. These guys get trips all over the world; they're beholden to Sulaiman and King. They wanted the American judge knocked out of there. Why? This decision speaks for itself." Duva also lamented "This is the second time this has happened to one of our fighters with Chávez." referring to Meldrick Taylor's loss to Chávez three years prior.[8] Duva had recommended respected veteran judge Jerry Roth, but Chávez refused. Duva's opinion was that Roth was turned down" because he had Meldrick Taylor ahead when Taylor fought Chávez."[9]

Dan Duva would launch an official protest only four days after the fight in hopes of getting the decision overturned in favor of Whitaker. The protest concerned the scoring of the sixth round of the bout in which referee Joe Cortez briefly halted the fight to allow Chávez to recover after Whitaker landed a low-blow. As Cortez believed the blow was unintentional, he did not instruct the judges to deduct a point from Whitaker on the scorecards. Whitaker would win the round 10–9 on both Woodruff and Marti's scorecard but Vann scored the round 10–9 in Chávez's favor. Vann was quoted in the Daily Express stating "The referee didn't take off a point, but I thought it had to be done.", which would be a violation as boxing rules state that only a referee can deduct points during the fight.[10] However, in an interview with ESPN's Charley Steiner, Vann denied any wrongdoing and stated that he scored the fight correctly.[11] The following month, the protest was withdrawn.[12]

Fight card

Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Notes
Welterweight 147 lb Pernell Whitaker (c) vs. Julio César Chávez D 12/12 Note 1
Super Featherweight 130 lb Azumah Nelson (c) vs. Jesse James Leija D 12/12 Note 2
Light Middleweight 154 lb Terry Norris (c) def. Joe Gatti TKO 1/12 Note 3
Middleweight 160 lb Thomas Tate def. Eduardo Ayala UD 10/10
Lightweight 135 lb Leavander Johnson def. Bobby Brewer TKO 10/10
Light Heavyweight 175 lb Frank Tate def. Everardo Armenta Jr TKO 9/10
Bantamweight 118 lb Tim Austin def. Hector Lara TKO 1/4

^Note 1 For WBC and Lineal Welterweight titles
^Note 2 For WBC Super Featherweight title
^Note 3 For WBC Light Middleweight title

References

  1. ^ Whitaker Is Winner Over McGirt, NY Times article, 1993-03-07, Retrieved on 2020-04-12
  2. ^ Pernell Whitaker, using his speed and capitalizing on his..., UPI article, 1993-03-06, Retrieved on 2020-04-13
  3. ^ Chavez and Whitaker: Fight Versus Flight, NY Times article, 1993-09-10, Retrieved on 2020-04-12
  4. ^ Head-to-head for pound-for-pound: Whitaker–Chavez Remembered, The Ring magazine article, Retrieved on 2020-04-13
  5. ^ [1], Buffalo News article, 1993-09-09, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  6. ^ Head-to-head for pound-for-pound: Whitaker–Chavez Remembered, The Ring magazine article, Retrieved on 2020-04-13
  7. ^ Pernell Whitaker 1964–2019, Sports Illustrated article, 2019-07-29, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  8. ^ Two Judges Too Quick On the Draw, NY Times article, 1993-09-12, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  9. ^ Beaten to the Draw, Sports Illustrated article, 1993-09-20, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  10. ^ Whitaker's promoter to protest decision, Tampa Bay Times article, 1993-09-15, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  11. ^ Vann says he scored Whitaker-Chavez bout properly, UPI article, 1993-09-14, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
  12. ^ Whitaker Drops Protest of Chavez Draw, News & Record article, 1993-10-20, Retrieved on 2020-04-14
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