In sad news, it has been reported how legendary warrior and former WBC featherweight and super featherweight king Bobby Chacon has passed away at the age of 64. Reports are sketchy and it is not yet clear just how Chacon of Sylmar, California died, but it is bad news nonetheless. A great action fighter who thrilled his millions of fans in the 1970s and ’80s, Chacon was a fearless warrior who always sought to fight the very best.
Turning pro in April of 1972 at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, Chacon went on to become a firm fan favourite. A 1973 loss to Mexican great Ruben Olivares proved a setback, with Chacon losing his unbeaten record, but he bounced back and, just six fights later, including a win over an unbeaten Danny Lopez, Chacon defeated Alfredo Marcano to win the vacant WBC 126-pound title. Just one retention followed, before Chacon met Olivares in a return. Losing again via stoppage, Chacon would also lose his next but one fight – to Rafael “Bazooka” Limon.
This rivalry proved to be one of the most fierce in boxing history. Limon, yet another great Mexican warrior, fought Chacon on four occasions and each fight was brutal. The first encounter between the two was the only one Limon won, with Chacon winning two decisions and the two boxing a technical draw. In between his wars with Limon, Chacon met Olivares for a third time, this time getting a non-title points victory.
It is the battles with Limon that Chacon is most celebrated for though. In their final meeting, in 1982, Chacon won a gruelling 15-round split decision to win the WBC 130-pound crown and become a two-weight ruler. This win was especially impressive as it came after Chacon had lost two previous challenges for that title – losing to Alexis Arguello and Cornelius Boza-Edwards. Chacon would avenge the stoppage loss to Boza-Edwards with a non-title points win and he would also challenge Ray Mancini, unsuccessfully, for the WBA lightweight title. After that 1984 loss, Chacon would win his final seven bouts, included here were wins over Freddie Roach and Art Frias.
Retiring with an amazing 59-7-1(47) record in the summer of 1988, Chacon had boxed as a pro for a long (too long) 16 years.
He will be missed.
“With profound sadness I have learned that our dear champion Bobby Chacon passed away this morning. May God have him now. R.I.P,” wrote WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman on Twitter today.