The great Julio Cesar Chavez has recalled how special it was to fight on Cinco de Mayo in the latest episode of Matchroom’s ‘Peleamundo’ series.
The Mexican legend boxed countless times on Cinco de Mayo weekend and during the month of May over his incredible career. Speaking to host Jessie Vargas, the former three-division world champion discussed how it felt to fight for his countrymen on such a significant date, especially his rematch with Frankie Randall in 1994.
“It’s a very special day for all Mexicans,” said Chavez. “I fought many times in May representing all Mexicans. It’s something very, very special, something very beautiful feeling the love, the support from all the Mexican Americans who lived in the United States.
“Above all, [it’s] the Mexicans that truly are the ones who support other Mexicans who go and triumph in the United States. For them, it’s something great that [someone] can represent them. I always tried to represent them in the best way. Fortunately, I gained their respect, but above all, I won the love of the people. Nobody can take it away from me.
“They were great, they were huge for me because I always had the support of all the Mexicans who moved [to America]. I don’t even remember any more if I won or lost, I think I won more than I lost!
“The one thing I’m left with is with the joy that I gave to the Mexicans there, the euphoria with which they received me, they presented me, and they followed me. I always have that.
“There are opponents that are complicated for us. The truth is that for me, Frankie Randall’s style was always complicated for me. Even in the third fight. Because in the second fight, even though I beat him, the truth is that if it weren’t for the headbutt no one knows how it would have gone for me because I was already really tired.
“Honestly, in that fight, I had prepared like never before. My addiction was already very far along. But I stopped for a bit there because I had lost, I wanted to avenge my loss. Despite the fact that my addiction was already very advanced. I tried to stop a bit in order to take back my title and that’s how it went. I think I went a bit too far. I prepared so well that I went into the fight over-trained. In the second round, I felt that my arms were already falling.
“Fortunately, thank God, based on pure experience I took the fight. I had another fight against him in Mexico City where I already knew his style and there I beat him more easily.”