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From the archive · May 15, 1986

Julio Cesar Chavez vs Faustino Martire Barrios

WBC World Super-featherweight Title · Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin, Paris, France

Julio Cesar Chavez

Record 50-0-0 · 129¾ lb

Faustino Martire Barrios

Record 32-13-14 · 129¼ lb

Julio Cesar Chavez vs Faustino Martire Barrios, Thursday, May 15, 1986

The fight

The Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in Paris, France, known for its intimate atmosphere and history of hosting top-tier sports events proved an ideal setting for the WBC World Super-featherweight title bout between Mexico's Julio Cesar Chavez and Argentina's Faustino Martire Barrios.

The match started with both fighters trading punches in the center of the ring. Chavez, known for his pressure fighting style, started to dictate the pace from the second round onward. He consistently cut off the ring, reducing Barrios' movement, and effectively worked the body, slowing down his opponent. Barrios tried to disrupt Chavez's rhythm with his unorthodox tactics, but this only resulted in a point deduction in the fifth round.

By the fifth round, Chavez had clearly taken control of the fight. His relentless body attack seemed to sap the energy out of Barrios, who resorted to clinching and attempting to grapple with Chavez. At 2:02 of the fifth round, the referee, Jean Deswert, stepped in to protect Barrios from further punishment, declaring Chavez the winner by TKO. This marked Chavez's fourth successful defense of his WBC super featherweight title.

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