Julio Cesar Chavez vs Rocky Lockridge

On Sunday, August 3, 1986, the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco bore witness to a scintillating bout between Julio Cesar Chavez, from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and Rocky Lockridge, a seasoned professional hailing from Tacoma, Washington. This fight was the sixth defense by Chavez of his WBC World Super-featherweight Title. With 52 wins under his belt and a weight of 129¾ lbs, Chavez was primed for the challenge. Lockridge, on the other hand, entered the ring with a record of 38-4-0 and a weight of 129¼ lbs.

This was a clash between Chavez's relentless attacking style and Lockridge's resilience and experience. Both fighters had previously defeated Roger Mayweather - Chavez in a two-round bout in July 1985, and Lockridge in a dramatic first-round knockout that earned him the WBA super-featherweight title. The fight was aired on NBC Sports and was promoted by Don King Productions & Sports Leaders Agency. Referee Tony Perez had the task of officiating the bout.

Lockeridge's camp hoped their man would have an edge in this contest, given it was scheduled for 12 rounds instead of 15. Historically, Lockridge had shown signs of fading in the later rounds of his fights. In preparation for the Chavez bout, he enlisted the services of fitness specialist Tim Hallmark, who had previously worked with Evander Holyfield.

However, despite the reduced round count and Lockridge's intense physical preparation, he came into the fight with less ring time in 1986 compared to Chavez, who had already fought three times that year, including two world title defenses within 30 days. The discrepancy in activity may have played a factor in the fight's outcome.

The contest was gruelling. Chavez launched a barrage of punches throughout, with his left uppercuts and right-handers particularly eye-catching. Lockridge proved his mettle by withstanding the onslaught and even rallying back in the fifth round. However, Chavez's precision and composure ultimately won the day. Jean Deswert scored the fight 116-116, while Miguel Donate and Giuseppe Ferrari favored Chavez, scoring the bout 116-113 and 119-113, respectively.