Julio Cesar Chavez vs Dwight Pratchett

On Saturday 21st September 1985, the Riviera Hotel & Casino's Outdoor Arena in Las Vegas hosted the WBC World Super-featherweight Title match between Julio Cesar Chavez and Dwight Pratchett. The event, promoted by Don King Productions and Butch Lewis Productions, saw Chavez, undefeated with a record of 47-0-0, weighing in at 130 lbs, and Pratchett, with a record of 13-6-0, weighing in at 128¼ lbs. The television coverage was provided by HBO World Championship Boxing.

The match was presided over by referee Davey Pearl. Chavez, hailing from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, entered the ring as the defending champion, this being his third defense of the WBC World Super-featherweight Title. Chavez, known as a fan-friendly fighter, was fast becoming a big draw in Las Vegas.

Opposing him was Dwight Pratchett from Gary, Indiana. Pratchett, though entering the ring with a less stellar record, was known for his durability, never having lost a match by knockout. His recent unanimous decision losses to Jimmy Paul, Juan LaPorte, and Meldrick Taylor had not deterred him, and he looked ready to seize the opportunity presented by the title match against Chavez.

The match began with Chavez showcasing his signature style of relentless attack and masterful defensive manoeuvres, while Pratchett displayed commendable resilience and counter-attacking prowess.

However, after a gruelling contest, Julio Cesar Chavez emerged victorious, retaining his title with a unanimous decision. The scores tallied at 117-111 by Miguel Donate, 118-110 by Paul Smith and a dominant 120-109 by Jorge L Velasco. Despite the defeat, Pratchett’s performance in the ring was noteworthy, and he earned praise for his grit and perseverance against the formidable Chavez.

In the aftermath of the fight, Chavez continued to dominate his weight division, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of his era. Pratchett, despite the loss, went on to win the NABF super featherweight title from Raphael Sims on points in 1986. However, he would later lose it to Mario Miranda and retire from boxing in 1987.