ALinChainz
03-21-2005, 09:35 PM
Chavez to get back in ring again
By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
March 21, 2005
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Julio Cesar Chavez is the latest athlete to be drawn out of retirement by the lure of one more paycheck.
Nearly a year after defeating Frankie Randall in what Chavez said was his final fight, the 42-year-old boxer has another one lined up.
Chavez will take on Ivan Robinson in a 10-round super lightweight fight May 28 at Staples Center that is being billed as the Mexican's ``Adios'' to Los Angeles.
``I can barely walk,'' Chavez said jokingly during Monday's outdoor announcement at Staples, a few miles from Olympic Auditorium, the site of his first WBC super lightweight world championship in 1984.
``A lot of people will think why am I going to fight again?'' Chavez said through an interpreter. ``It's unbelievable the way people have been sending me mail and calling. They really want me to say goodbye in the ring. The people from L.A. deserve this.''
Promoter Bob Arum knew he had to price the matchup of two aging fighters accordingly.
``If I had Julio Cesar Chavez at the top of his career, we wouldn't be charging $200 for ringside. We'd be charging a lot more,'' he said. ``This is a very nostalgic evening because this will be his final fight, at least in Los Angeles.''
More than half of the 16,600 seats will be priced at $50 or less.
Arum was sued by rival Don King in 2002 for allegedly stealing Chavez from King. A jury sided with Arum.
Chavez is guaranteed $200,000; Robinson's paycheck will be $60,000, Arum said.
Chavez (106-5-2, 88 knockouts) has been idle since earning a unanimous decision over Randall in Mexico City in May.
``I know I'm not the same fighter, but there is still a little bit of the Julio you saw,'' he said. ``It's not an easy fight, but I will be ready for him. This fight is for all the Mexican people who live here in L.A.''
Robinson (39-9-2, 12 KOs) is best known for two victories over current WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti in 1998.
The 34-year-old last fought in February, winning a six-round unanimous decision over Tyrone Winckler in his hometown of Philadelphia.
``It's a dream come true, but then again this is the scariest fight of my career,'' Robinson said. ``I'm fighting a legend. Out of his wins, his 88 knockouts is really what has astounded me. The kid hasn't fought a bum a day in his life.''
He joked about the aging Chavez, saying, ``In dog age, they're going to say that's 105-years-old.''
However, Robinson said he's preparing himself to fight a 25-year-old version of Chavez.
``It's been said he's an old guy, he's been abused by drugs and drinking. All that doesn't matter to me,'' he said. ``I've known guys that party all the time. Guys party before fights and come in and win and look good.''
Arum said Chavez is in shape and has changed his ways.
``Julio has been sober for quite some time, off alcohol, off bad substances. He has turned his life around and one of the reasons is that he was embarrassed to revert to his old ways,'' he said. ``It was a bad image for his son. He wants his son to love and respect him.''
Chavez' 19-year-old son Julio Jr. will fight a six-round lightweight bout on the card against an opponent to be named. Julio Jr. (16-0, 11 knockouts) and his father were on the same card in May when the elder Chavez defeated Randall.
``I know probably a lot of people don't think much of me as a fighter, but very soon I'm going to prove I'm going to be a good, good fighter and not just the son of Julio Cesar Chavez,'' he said through an interpreter.
The undercard features Rafael Marquez of Mexico defending his 12-round IBF bantamweight title against countryman Ricardo Vargas; and Carlos Hernandez of West Covina against Jesus Chavez of Austin, Texas, in a 12-round world super featherweight elimination.
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ap-chavez-robinson&prov=ap&type=lgns
By BETH HARRIS, AP Sports Writer
March 21, 2005
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Julio Cesar Chavez is the latest athlete to be drawn out of retirement by the lure of one more paycheck.
Nearly a year after defeating Frankie Randall in what Chavez said was his final fight, the 42-year-old boxer has another one lined up.
Chavez will take on Ivan Robinson in a 10-round super lightweight fight May 28 at Staples Center that is being billed as the Mexican's ``Adios'' to Los Angeles.
``I can barely walk,'' Chavez said jokingly during Monday's outdoor announcement at Staples, a few miles from Olympic Auditorium, the site of his first WBC super lightweight world championship in 1984.
``A lot of people will think why am I going to fight again?'' Chavez said through an interpreter. ``It's unbelievable the way people have been sending me mail and calling. They really want me to say goodbye in the ring. The people from L.A. deserve this.''
Promoter Bob Arum knew he had to price the matchup of two aging fighters accordingly.
``If I had Julio Cesar Chavez at the top of his career, we wouldn't be charging $200 for ringside. We'd be charging a lot more,'' he said. ``This is a very nostalgic evening because this will be his final fight, at least in Los Angeles.''
More than half of the 16,600 seats will be priced at $50 or less.
Arum was sued by rival Don King in 2002 for allegedly stealing Chavez from King. A jury sided with Arum.
Chavez is guaranteed $200,000; Robinson's paycheck will be $60,000, Arum said.
Chavez (106-5-2, 88 knockouts) has been idle since earning a unanimous decision over Randall in Mexico City in May.
``I know I'm not the same fighter, but there is still a little bit of the Julio you saw,'' he said. ``It's not an easy fight, but I will be ready for him. This fight is for all the Mexican people who live here in L.A.''
Robinson (39-9-2, 12 KOs) is best known for two victories over current WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti in 1998.
The 34-year-old last fought in February, winning a six-round unanimous decision over Tyrone Winckler in his hometown of Philadelphia.
``It's a dream come true, but then again this is the scariest fight of my career,'' Robinson said. ``I'm fighting a legend. Out of his wins, his 88 knockouts is really what has astounded me. The kid hasn't fought a bum a day in his life.''
He joked about the aging Chavez, saying, ``In dog age, they're going to say that's 105-years-old.''
However, Robinson said he's preparing himself to fight a 25-year-old version of Chavez.
``It's been said he's an old guy, he's been abused by drugs and drinking. All that doesn't matter to me,'' he said. ``I've known guys that party all the time. Guys party before fights and come in and win and look good.''
Arum said Chavez is in shape and has changed his ways.
``Julio has been sober for quite some time, off alcohol, off bad substances. He has turned his life around and one of the reasons is that he was embarrassed to revert to his old ways,'' he said. ``It was a bad image for his son. He wants his son to love and respect him.''
Chavez' 19-year-old son Julio Jr. will fight a six-round lightweight bout on the card against an opponent to be named. Julio Jr. (16-0, 11 knockouts) and his father were on the same card in May when the elder Chavez defeated Randall.
``I know probably a lot of people don't think much of me as a fighter, but very soon I'm going to prove I'm going to be a good, good fighter and not just the son of Julio Cesar Chavez,'' he said through an interpreter.
The undercard features Rafael Marquez of Mexico defending his 12-round IBF bantamweight title against countryman Ricardo Vargas; and Carlos Hernandez of West Covina against Jesus Chavez of Austin, Texas, in a 12-round world super featherweight elimination.
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ap-chavez-robinson&prov=ap&type=lgns