Julio Cesar Chavez Sr proved himself to be one of the greatest fighters in boxing history during his decorated 25-year career.
The Mexican legend made his professional debut back in 1980 and would go on to win world titles in three weight classes, ranging from super-featherweight up to light-welterweight.
He fought on no less than 115 occasions throughout the course of his tenure, racking up victories over the likes of Meldrick Taylor, Hector Camacho and Roger Mayweather, uncle and trainer of former pound-for-pound star Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Chavez is often commended for his involvement in an astonishing 37 world title fights during his tenure, with a number of these encounters coming against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Pernell Whitaker and Kostya Tszyu.
In a round of ‘Best I Faced’ with The Ring Magazine, Chavez didn’t hesitate to reveal Olympic Gold Medallist and two-weight world champion Meldrick ‘The Kid’ Taylor as the best opponent he ever crossed paths with.
“I faced everybody. If you look at my record, all the fights I had, I had 37 world championship fights and I didn’t hand pick any opponents. But if I was to look at the best overall fighter, it would have to be Meldrick Taylor.”
Taylor, who was a member of that iconic 1984 USA Boxing Team alongside the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker and Mark Breland, is widely considered to be one of the best fighters of his era.
Although he suffered two defeats to Chavez during his 18-year career, Taylor became a world champion at super-lightweight and welterweight along the way before he announced his retirement from the sport in 2002.