Bobby Chacon
Encyclopedia
Bobby Chacon is an American former, two-time, world boxing champion.
. Fourteen months into his professional career, Chacon faced world champion Rubén Olivares
but lost the bout when Olivares scored a ninth-round knock out.
After suffering his first defeat against Olivares, Chacon won his next four bouts, then faced off against cross-town rival and future champion Danny Lopez
. Lopez outboxed Chacon and stopped him in the ninth round.
On July 9, 1974, Chacon won the vacant WBC Featherweight title by defeating former WBA Junior Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano
in nine rounds at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
in Los Angeles
. During his first period as a world champion, Chacon got to meet, and like, what many refer to as the sweet life. He became an alcoholic, and he loved partying. His clashes with the law became matters of public knowledge, and his life went on a wild downward spiral.
Chacon lost his title in his second defense against arch-rival Rubén Olivares. Almost immediately after his loss against Olivares, he fought the first of his four fight rivalry with another world champion, Rafael "Bazooka" Limón
. They would engage in what some boxing experts and historians have described as one of the fiercest and most spectacular boxing rivalries in history. Limón beat Chacon in their first bout by a decision.
Chacon then scored nine straight wins, leading him to a third match with Olivares. This time, Chacon defeated Olivares in their 12-round bout by a decision. In Chacon's next fight, he lost an upset decision to Arturo Leon. Chacon rebounded by scoring victories over Ignacio Campos, Augie Pantellas, Gerald Hayes
and Shig Fukuyama. He then fought to a technical draw in a rematch against Rafael Limón.
In November 1979, Chacon received a shot at the WBC
title, versus world champion Alexis Argüello
. Arguello defeated him by a devastating knock out after Chacon suffered a bad cut in the seventh round.
In 1980, Chacon had only one fight, but it was a significant one. He beat Limón in their third bout, and the WBC once again made him their number one challenger.
In 1981, Arguello had left the title vacant and gone up in weight to pursue the world's Lightweight title. Limón then beat Idelphonso Bethelmy by a knockout in 15 in Los Angeles to win the WBC world Jr. Lightweight championship. In his first title defense, he lost it by a decision to Uganda
's Cornelius Boza Edwards
, who, in turn, defended his title against Chacon on his first defense. In a televised bout, Edwards retained the world title by a knockout in the thirteenth round.
Chacon would go on to win five in a row in 1982, including a rematch victory over Arturo Leon, which kept him as the number one challenger, but then a dramatic development outside the ring would change his life forever: Chacon's wife, Valerie Chacon, flew to Hawaii
on February of that year, hoping to convince him to leave boxing and move there if she found them good jobs. She was able to find a job, but unable to convince him to join her in Hawaii, so she flew back. She pleaded for him to leave the sport but wasn't able to convince him to do so, and one night before he boxed Salvador Ugalde, she grabbed a rifle and shot herself, dying instantly. Chacon went through with the fight and KO'ed Ugalde in the third round. He dedicated his win to his deceased wife.
Two more victories would follow, and then came his fourth and final bout with Limón. Limón had regained the world's Jr. Lightweight title by beating Rolando Navarrete
by a knockout in 12 rounds. Navarrete, for his part, had won the title by beating Edwards by a knockout in five in Italy. Chacon-Limón IV became one of the fights of the year and the decade, according to such magazines as The Ring
, KO Magazine
, and Ring En Español
, and Chacon recovered from knockdowns suffered in rounds three and 10 to drop Limón in the closing seconds of round 15, and secure a close decision and his second world title in Sacramento.
About one year and a half after Valerie's suicide, Chacon remarried and bought a large farm with a mansion and, according to what he said at an interview, about 40 horses. He also acquired a collection of Rolls Royce cars and some other vehicles. In between, he and Boza Edwards met for a second time, with his world title on the line, in what Ring Magazine called the fight of the year for 1983. Chacon rose from a knockdown in round one and recovered from a dangerous cut to drop Boza Edwards in round twelve and avenge his earlier defeat to the Ugandan former champion.
In 1983, Chacon was signed to defend his WBC title in a rematch against Boza Edwards, who was the WBC's mandatory challenger. Even though WBC rules stated the mandatory challenger should receive a shot at the title, the WBC insisted Chacon fight Héctor Camacho
in Puerto Rico
instead, then stripped him of his title when he refused.
Chacon started 1984 with a move up in weight, to the Lightweight division, where he tried to join the exclusive club of boxing's three division world champions, but was knocked out in three during his challenge against world champion Ray Mancini
in Reno
. Chacon then beat Carlton Sparrow by a TKO in five rounds and announced his retirement.
Chacon came back in 1985 and he won five fights, including one against former world champion Arturo Frias
by a knockout in seven, and a knockout in five over Rafael Solis
, who had challenged Camacho for the world Jr. Lightweight title that had once belonged to Chacon.
In 1987 and 1989 he won one fight each year, and then he retired for good. But Chacon's life was once again marred by tragedy when his son was murdered in 1991. In 1996, he was spotted at a public appearance in Phoenix, Arizona
to see the Pay Per View fight between Oscar De La Hoya
and Julio César Chávez
together with fans at a public fight viewing held at a plaza there. But by year 2000, he had lost most of his savings and was being cared for by nurse as he suffered from the effects of dementia pugilistica
(boxer’s syndrome).
Chacon had a record of 59 wins, 7 losses and 1 no contest, with 47 wins coming by knockout
. He holds victories over seven other men who held a world title. Olivares, Castillo, Lopez, Marcano, Limón, Edwards and Frias.
by Ring magazine. His wins over Limon in 1982 and Edwards in 1983, were both named Ring Magazine fights of the year
. In 2003, Chacon was included on Ring Magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time". In January 2005, Chacon was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
.
He is referenced in the Warren Zevon
song "Boom Boom Mancini."
Career
Chacon turned professional in 1972 and won his first 19 fights, including a win against former champion Jesus CastilloChucho Castillo
Jesus Castillo Aguillera is a former Mexican boxer. Better known as Chucho Castillo, he was WBA and WBC Bantamweight champion in 1970....
. Fourteen months into his professional career, Chacon faced world champion Rubén Olivares
Rubén Olivares
Rubén Olivares is a former Mexican boxer and current member of the Boxing Hall of Fame. A native of Mexico City, Olivares was a world champion multiple times, and considered by many as the greatest bantamweight champion of all time. He was very popular among Mexicans, many of whom considered him...
but lost the bout when Olivares scored a ninth-round knock out.
After suffering his first defeat against Olivares, Chacon won his next four bouts, then faced off against cross-town rival and future champion Danny Lopez
Danny Lopez
Danny Lopez is a former American boxer from Fort Duchesne, Utah. He was world Featherweight champion, and a very popular fighter both in television and Southern California, during the 1970s. His nickname is Little Red.-Background:...
. Lopez outboxed Chacon and stopped him in the ninth round.
On July 9, 1974, Chacon won the vacant WBC Featherweight title by defeating former WBA Junior Lightweight champion Alfredo Marcano
Alfredo Marcano
Alfredo Marcano was a Venezuelan professional boxer. During his career, which spanned from 1966 to 1975, Marcano won the WBA World super featherweight title. Marcano challenged for the WBA title on July 29, 1971 against Hiroshi Kobayashi. The fight took place in Japan—the home country of the...
in nine rounds at the Grand Olympic Auditorium
Grand Olympic Auditorium
The Grand Olympic Auditorium is the former name of a sports venue in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located at 1801 S. Grand Avenue, the venue was built in 1924 specifically for the 1932 Summer Olympics, which saw the boxing, weightlifting, and wrestling events held there. At the time it...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. During his first period as a world champion, Chacon got to meet, and like, what many refer to as the sweet life. He became an alcoholic, and he loved partying. His clashes with the law became matters of public knowledge, and his life went on a wild downward spiral.
Chacon lost his title in his second defense against arch-rival Rubén Olivares. Almost immediately after his loss against Olivares, he fought the first of his four fight rivalry with another world champion, Rafael "Bazooka" Limón
Rafael Limon
Rafael Limón is a Mexican former boxer who was a world champion in the Super Featherweight /Jr. Lightweight division twice.He is better known as Bazooka Limón. Limón shares his nickname, Bazooka, with at least two other known world boxing champions: Puerto Rico's Wilfredo "Bazooka" Gómez and...
. They would engage in what some boxing experts and historians have described as one of the fiercest and most spectacular boxing rivalries in history. Limón beat Chacon in their first bout by a decision.
Chacon then scored nine straight wins, leading him to a third match with Olivares. This time, Chacon defeated Olivares in their 12-round bout by a decision. In Chacon's next fight, he lost an upset decision to Arturo Leon. Chacon rebounded by scoring victories over Ignacio Campos, Augie Pantellas, Gerald Hayes
Gerald Hayes
Gerald Hayes is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh....
and Shig Fukuyama. He then fought to a technical draw in a rematch against Rafael Limón.
In November 1979, Chacon received a shot at the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
title, versus world champion Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...
. Arguello defeated him by a devastating knock out after Chacon suffered a bad cut in the seventh round.
In 1980, Chacon had only one fight, but it was a significant one. He beat Limón in their third bout, and the WBC once again made him their number one challenger.
In 1981, Arguello had left the title vacant and gone up in weight to pursue the world's Lightweight title. Limón then beat Idelphonso Bethelmy by a knockout in 15 in Los Angeles to win the WBC world Jr. Lightweight championship. In his first title defense, he lost it by a decision to Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
's Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards
Cornelius Boza Edwards was a Ugandan boxer in the Light Welterweight division and the former WBC Super Featherweight Champion. Edwards emigrated from Uganda to England, where he lived for a long period of time...
, who, in turn, defended his title against Chacon on his first defense. In a televised bout, Edwards retained the world title by a knockout in the thirteenth round.
Chacon would go on to win five in a row in 1982, including a rematch victory over Arturo Leon, which kept him as the number one challenger, but then a dramatic development outside the ring would change his life forever: Chacon's wife, Valerie Chacon, flew to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
on February of that year, hoping to convince him to leave boxing and move there if she found them good jobs. She was able to find a job, but unable to convince him to join her in Hawaii, so she flew back. She pleaded for him to leave the sport but wasn't able to convince him to do so, and one night before he boxed Salvador Ugalde, she grabbed a rifle and shot herself, dying instantly. Chacon went through with the fight and KO'ed Ugalde in the third round. He dedicated his win to his deceased wife.
Two more victories would follow, and then came his fourth and final bout with Limón. Limón had regained the world's Jr. Lightweight title by beating Rolando Navarrete
Rolando Navarrete
Rolando Navarrete is a Filipino ex-boxer who briefly held a junior lightweight world title in the 80s.-Fighting style:A fine boxer, Navarrete had a good talent and was known for his hard-hitting punches....
by a knockout in 12 rounds. Navarrete, for his part, had won the title by beating Edwards by a knockout in five in Italy. Chacon-Limón IV became one of the fights of the year and the decade, according to such magazines as The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
, KO Magazine
KO Magazine
KO Magazine is a popular United States boxing magazine. It was first published in 1979, to compete with The Ring.During the 1980s, KO Magazine, nicknamed "The knockout boxing magazine", ran some popular features, such as a round-by-round section where the most important fights were described punch...
, and Ring En Español
Ring En Español
The Ring En Español was a Spanish version of boxing publication The Ring magazine. Ring En Español was published from 1977 to 1985. Originally published from Caracas, it moved in 1981 to Miami, to Editorial America , the same editorial house that oversaw the production of Cosmopolitans Spanish...
, and Chacon recovered from knockdowns suffered in rounds three and 10 to drop Limón in the closing seconds of round 15, and secure a close decision and his second world title in Sacramento.
About one year and a half after Valerie's suicide, Chacon remarried and bought a large farm with a mansion and, according to what he said at an interview, about 40 horses. He also acquired a collection of Rolls Royce cars and some other vehicles. In between, he and Boza Edwards met for a second time, with his world title on the line, in what Ring Magazine called the fight of the year for 1983. Chacon rose from a knockdown in round one and recovered from a dangerous cut to drop Boza Edwards in round twelve and avenge his earlier defeat to the Ugandan former champion.
In 1983, Chacon was signed to defend his WBC title in a rematch against Boza Edwards, who was the WBC's mandatory challenger. Even though WBC rules stated the mandatory challenger should receive a shot at the title, the WBC insisted Chacon fight Héctor Camacho
Héctor Camacho
Héctor Camacho , nicknamed "Macho Camacho", is a Puerto Rican professional boxer. His son, Héctor Camacho Jr., is also a boxer.- Early life and amateur career :...
in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
instead, then stripped him of his title when he refused.
Chacon started 1984 with a move up in weight, to the Lightweight division, where he tried to join the exclusive club of boxing's three division world champions, but was knocked out in three during his challenge against world champion Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
in Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. Chacon then beat Carlton Sparrow by a TKO in five rounds and announced his retirement.
Chacon came back in 1985 and he won five fights, including one against former world champion Arturo Frias
Arturo Frias
Arturo Frias is a retired American boxer. He is a native of Montebello, California.-Boxing career:Frias began his professional boxing career on February 7, 1975, one month and a half after he had turned eighteen years old. He beat Alfredo Medrano by a six round decision in San Diego that night...
by a knockout in seven, and a knockout in five over Rafael Solis
Rafael Solis (boxer)
Rafael Solis is a former light middleweight boxer from Puerto Rico. He was raised in the barrio of Camito...
, who had challenged Camacho for the world Jr. Lightweight title that had once belonged to Chacon.
In 1987 and 1989 he won one fight each year, and then he retired for good. But Chacon's life was once again marred by tragedy when his son was murdered in 1991. In 1996, he was spotted at a public appearance in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
to see the Pay Per View fight between Oscar De La Hoya
Oscar de la Hoya
Oscar De La Hoya is a retired American boxer of Mexican descent. Nicknamed "The Golden Boy", De La Hoya won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympic Games shortly after graduating from Garfield High School. De La Hoya comes from a boxing family. His grandfather Vicente, father Joel Sr., and brother...
and Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez
Julio César Chávez is a retired Mexican professional boxer.He is a six-time world champion in three weight divisions, and for several years he was considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world...
together with fans at a public fight viewing held at a plaza there. But by year 2000, he had lost most of his savings and was being cared for by nurse as he suffered from the effects of dementia pugilistica
Dementia pugilistica
Dementia pugilistica is a type of neurodegenerative disease or dementia, which may affect amateur or professional boxers as well as athletes in other sports who suffer concussions...
(boxer’s syndrome).
Chacon had a record of 59 wins, 7 losses and 1 no contest, with 47 wins coming by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. He holds victories over seven other men who held a world title. Olivares, Castillo, Lopez, Marcano, Limón, Edwards and Frias.
Honors
In 1982, he was named comeback fighter of the yearRing Magazine comeback of the year
The Ring was established in 1922. Since 1980, it has named a fighter who has come back from adversity or reversed a career decline as comeback of the year, based on the magazine's writers' criteria...
by Ring magazine. His wins over Limon in 1982 and Edwards in 1983, were both named Ring Magazine fights of the year
Ring Magazine fights of the year
The Ring was established in 1922 and since 1945, it has named a Fight of the Year.-1940s:*1945 - Rocky Graziano KO 10 Red Cochrane I*1946 - Tony Zale KO 6 Rocky Graziano I*1947 - Rocky Graziano KO 6 Tony Zale II...
. In 2003, Chacon was included on Ring Magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Punchers of All-Time". In January 2005, Chacon was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.
He is referenced in the Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon
Warren William Zevon was an American rock singer-songwriter and musician noted for including his sometimes sardonic opinions of life in his musical lyrics, composing songs that were sometimes humorous and often had political or historical themes.Zevon's work has often been praised by well-known...
song "Boom Boom Mancini."