Julio Cesar Chavez vs Frankie Mitchell

As expected, Julio César Chávez retained the World Boxing Council super-lightweight championship at the Las Vegas Hilton on 1 August 1992, stopping Frankie Mitchell after 56 seconds of the fourth round. The Mexican champion entered with an unbeaten record of 80 victories and was making the eighth defence of the title he had won from Roger Mayweather three years earlier. Mitchell, a Philadelphia lightweight with 29 wins and one defeat, was moving up in weight after holding the North American championship. His only previous loss had been a points decision against South Africa’s Brian Mitchell in a challenge for the WBA super-featherweight title in Italy. Chávez weighed the division limit of 140lb, while Mitchell was announced at 138lb.

The contest was arranged chiefly to prepare Chávez for his long-discussed meeting with Hector Camacho, who also appeared on the programme and stopped Eddie Van Kirk in the fourth round. Mitchell was consequently given little chance, but he did not enter merely to survive. He began by moving rapidly around Chávez, changing direction and attempting to strike before the champion could establish his customary pressure. Mitchell used the jab from the orthodox position and occasionally switched to southpaw, hoping to disturb Chávez’s rhythm. Chávez followed without hurry, holding his gloves high and taking small steps rather than wasting energy in pursuit.

Mitchell’s movement made the opening round reasonably competitive. He touched Chávez with quick punches and moved away before the champion could answer fully, although much of his work lacked weight. Chávez concentrated on the body and sought to prevent Mitchell from escaping to his left. A right hand reached Mitchell’s head during the middle of the round, and a later left hook knocked out the challenger’s mouthpiece. Mitchell responded with a quick combination before the bell, but Chávez had already begun to judge the distance. Two of the three judges gave the round to the champion, while Angel Luis Guzman preferred Mitchell’s greater activity.

The pace increased in the second. Chávez stepped closer and drove a left hook into the body, but Mitchell answered with fast punches to the head and briefly marked the champion’s face. The challenger was willing to exchange when Chávez reached him, throwing in clusters before attempting to escape along the ropes. Referee Mills Lane warned him after a punch landed low. Mitchell nevertheless continued to work at a brisk rate and had his best period of the contest, striking Chávez with several combinations while the champion advanced. Guzman awarded Mitchell the round, although Art Lurie and Omar Mintun Sr again scored for Chávez.

The difference between the two men became clearer during the third. Mitchell’s speed remained, but his movement was becoming less effective, and he was increasingly required to fight at close quarters. Chávez blocked or ignored the lighter punches and answered with shorter, heavier blows. His left hook repeatedly found Mitchell’s side, while the right hand began to land over the challenger’s guard. Mitchell switched stance and attempted to hold his ground, but Chávez’s balance and greater strength allowed him to continue punching while the American was forced to reset.

A right cross drove Mitchell backwards and left him momentarily unsteady. Chávez followed him towards the ropes, striking with both hands to the body and head. Mitchell clinched when he could and attempted to punch his way clear, but the champion remained in front of him. Chávez did not throw wildly. He placed his feet, brought the left hook beneath Mitchell’s elbow and then moved the attack upstairs when the challenger lowered his guard. Mitchell survived the round but had taken a considerable amount of punishment. Lurie and Mintun scored it 10–7, despite no official knockdown, while Guzman gave Chávez a 10–8 round. After three rounds, the cards read 30–25 twice and 29–26 for the champion.

Mitchell began the fourth moving quickly and throwing hard in an effort to discourage Chávez before the champion could resume his advance. The effort lasted less than a minute. Chávez stepped inside and landed a heavy right hand which sent Mitchell reeling backwards. With the challenger unable to regain his balance, Chávez followed with another attack, and Mitchell collapsed near the ropes, dropping to his knees.

Mitchell rose at the count of nine, but his legs were uncertain, and he was plainly in no condition to defend himself against the expected follow-up. Lane examined him briefly and stopped the contest at 56 seconds. The decision was sensible. Mitchell had shown courage and had attempted to make use of his speed, but by the third round he was being struck too cleanly and too heavily for the fight to continue much longer. Chávez had recorded his 81st successive victory and his 70th inside the distance.

The match had served its immediate purpose. Chávez remained unbeaten and moved towards the September contest with Camacho without suffering injury or being forced into a prolonged struggle. Mitchell had troubled him briefly with movement and rapid combinations, but he lacked the strength to keep the champion outside and could not withstand the pressure once Chávez reached punching range. The ending was not the result of a single fortunate blow. Chávez had spent the first two rounds reducing Mitchell’s space, attacking the body and forcing him to work at an unsustainable pace. By the third, Mitchell was no longer controlling where the exchanges took place. The fourth merely provided the conclusion which the previous round had made probable.

Chávez was 80–0 and using Frankie Mitchell as the final warm-up before the big Hector Camacho fight. Mitchell was quick, lively and willing, but he was a natural lightweight facing one of the finest pressure fighters the sport has seen. He could touch Chávez with combinations, yet nothing he threw altered the champion’s march.

By the third round, Chávez had worked him out. He closed the space without rushing, dug the left hook downstairs and forced Mitchell into exchanges he could not win. The right hand in the fourth left Mitchell badly shaken before Mills Lane stopped it at 56 seconds. No argument from me. Mitchell had courage, but Chávez was simply too strong, too accurate and too accomplished.