Julio Cesar Chavez, the Mexican boxing icon, has picked Meldrick Taylor as the best fighter he ever faced. Chavez shared this opinion in a recent chat with The Ring magazine, praising Taylor's quick hands and ability to land multiple shots.
Chavez, who boxed for a quarter of a century, won world titles in three weight divisions before hanging up his gloves in 2005. His career saw him step into the ring 115 times, losing only six of those fights. He beat some of the best in the business, including Hector Camacho and Greg Haugen.
When asked about his toughest opponent, Chavez didn't hesitate. He said:
"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."
Chavez went on to explain why he rated Taylor so highly:
"I would land one shot and I would take four in return. He was quick. More than anything it was the fact he had real quick hands. By the time I landed one real power shot I was taking five, six in return. They weren't hard shots, they weren't power shots, but I couldn't get in my range, I couldn't get established."
Taylor, known as "The Kid," was a two-weight world champion who retired in 2002. His speed and output made him a nightmare for Chavez. The Mexican legend struggled to find his range against Taylor's rapid-fire combinations.
Chavez and Taylor fought twice. Their first bout happened in 1990, with Chavez winning by knockout. They met again in 1994, and once more Chavez came out on top with a knockout victory.
Despite these wins, Chavez's words show just how much respect he had for Taylor's skills. It's a testament to Taylor's abilities that he left such a lasting impression on one of boxing's all-time greats.
Chavez's career was filled with memorable fights, but it's clear that his battles with Taylor stand out as particularly challenging and impressive.
