What is Julio César Chávez's Net Worth?
Julio César Chávez is a Mexican former professional boxer who has a net worth of $10 million. Julio César Chávez competed from 1980 to 2005. Regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, he won multiple world championships across three weight divisions, and set records for most title fights and most title fight victories. Chávez is the father of professional boxers Julio César Chávez Jr. and Omar Chávez.
Early Life
Julio César Chávez was born on July 12, 1962 in Obregón, Sonora, Mexico into a poor family. With his five sisters and four brothers, he grew up in an abandoned railroad car, as his father was a railroad worker. Chávez decided to take up boxing so he could make money to help his family. He began at the age of 16, and eventually moved to Tijuana to become a professional.
Professional Boxing Career
Chávez made his professional boxing debut in early 1980, in Culiacán, Mexico. In the fight, he defeated Andres Felix by KO. Chávez continued to beat all of his opponents over the subsequent years. In late 1982, he made his ring debut in the United States, beating Jerry Lewis in Sacramento, California. Chávez won his first championship, the vacant WBC Super Featherweight title, in Los Angeles in 1984. The following year, he successfully defended the title against Ruben Castillo, Roger Mayweather, and Dwight Pratchett. Chávez defended the WBC Super Featherweight title a total of nine times through 1987. He subsequently moved up to the lightweight division, and in late 1987 won the WBA Lightweight title by beating Edwin Rosario via TKO in the 11th round. Almost a year later, Chávez unified the WBA and WBC belts by defeating José Luis Ramírez. After that fight, he was given the Ring lightweight title. Chávez soon vacated his WBA and WBC Lightweight belts to move up to the light welterweight division.
In the spring of 1989, facing Roger Mayweather for the second time in his career, Chávez beat Mayweather to claim the WBC Light Welterweight title. The next year, he unified the WBC and IBF belts by defeating Meldrick Taylor in what was named the Ring's Fight of the Year, and, later, its Fight of the Decade. Chávez successfully defended his WBC Light Welterweight title a total of 18 times through 1995. Meanwhile, in September of 1993, he moved up to the welterweight division to challenge Pernell Whitaker for the WBC Welterweight title. The bout ended in a controversial draw, marking the first career fight Chávez did not win. He went on to lose his first career fight in early 1994, ceding his WBC Light Welterweight title to Frankie Randall. However, in a rematch, Chávez defeated Randall and reclaimed the belt. He held the belt until mid-1996, when he lost it to Oscar De La Hoya. In his next bout, the 100th of his career, Chávez defeated Joey Gamache in Anaheim, California.
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In March of 1998, Chávez faced Miguel Ángel González for the vacant WBC Light Welterweight title. The fight ultimately ended in a draw. Six months later, Chávez challenged his former foe Oscar De La Hoya for the WBC Welterweight title, and once again lost to De La Hoya. In 1999, he defeated Verdell Smith and Marty Jakubowski before losing to Willy Wise. Closing out the year, Chávez defeated Buck Smith. In his first fight of the new millennium, competing once again for the WBC Light Welterweight title, Chávez lost to Kostya Tszyu via TKO. After winning his next fight, which occurred over a year later, Chávez retired. However, he came out of retirement in late 2003 to successfully avenge his earlier loss to Willy Wise. Chávez faced another old opponent, Frankie Randall, in 2004, and won via unanimous decision. A year later, he defeated Ivan Robinson by unanimous decision. Following his TKO loss to Grover Wiley in 2005, Chávez officially retired. He finished his 25-year professional career with a 107-6-2 record.
Personal Life
Chávez has four known children: sons Julio Jr., Omar, and Cristian and daughter Nicole. Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. and Omar are both professional boxers, while Nicole is an actress, model, and reality television personality.