In June 1996, De La Hoya established
himself as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world when he
defeated the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell Whitaker.
In June 1996, De La Hoya faced his biggest challenge ever. He was
scheduled to fight Julio Cesar Chavez, the World Boxing Council (WBC)
super lightweight champion. Chavez was an excellent fighter and a legend
in Mexico and among Hispanic fans. He had 99 professional fights and 32
title bouts — an incredible amount of experience — and had lost only one
fight in his career. De La Hoya sparred with Chavez as an amateur, and
the champion knocked him down.
The crowd at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, was behind the old
warrior Chavez. It soon became clear, however, who the best fighter was
that night. De La Hoya marched out of his corner and repeatedly landed
stinging blows on Chavez. "I was trying to stop him in his tracks," De
La Hoya explained in the Los Angeles Times. The young champion kept
Chavez away from him with a powerful jab, then pummeled the legendary
champion in the fourth round with a six-punch flurry. The fight doctor
stepped in at that point, stopping the fight because of a brutal cut
above Chavez's left eye.
"I knew if he got injured it would be a big problem for him," De La Hoya
stated in the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He's a true warrior but when I cut
his eye and broke his nose with a left hook I knew I had him." Despite
his victory, De La Hoya realized he still needed to improve. "I need
many more fights to learn, many more years to become a complete
champion," De La Hoya told Sports Illustrated.
Tyson's newest trouble makes three too many
ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
Daily Beacon Editor
Either heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is always in the wrong
place at the wrong time, has a problem dealing with women, or is the
constant subject of erroneous complaints. This last weekend's episode at
a Chicago nightclub involving a 25-year-old beautician makes the third
documented time Tyson has been implicated in a sexual battery incident.
So far the woman has only filed a complaint and has not pressed charges.
The manager and several employees of the nightclub where the incident
supposedly took place have said the woman was never alone with Tyson,
and in fact, two security guards followed Tyson the whole night. They
said he was drinking water all night also.
It is easy to jump to conclusions about whether or not Tyson is guilty
or innocent in this case. Of course, charges have not been filed yet,
but if they are then public opinion will vary and will be loud. People
who believed Tyson was guilty of raping Desiree Washington and should
have gone to jail in 1992 are probably going to believe Tyson is guilty
in this incident. It is a fact that people who commit crimes such as
sexual battery and rape have a habit of doing it repeatedly. Even before
Tyson was involved with Washington, his then-wife's publicist accused
him of assaulting her in 1988. Other people vindicate Tyson saying that
people automatically assume he is guilty because of stereotypes of black
men. These people say the black women involved are intentionally blaming
Tyson when he is really innocent. For now, there are two sides and two
stories. On the woman' side is her lawyer and probably the other women
who have accused Tyson. Tyson has some club employees in his corner.
Already people are judging for themselves. The odds look bad for Tyson.
Three incidents, whether guilty or not, in eight years is too
coincidental.
