By: James Blears

Mexico’s most successful and adored boxer Julio Cesar Chavez is planning yet another “Farewell” fight. But this time it’s not against a middle aged man like him, and that spells real danger.

Ivan Robinson is 34 years old. That means he’s eight years younger than JC. His record of 32-9-2 with only 12 knockouts looks pretty modest compared to that of the old maestro who has done it all with: 106-5-2, with 88 ko’s. That’s until you consider that Robinson has twice defeated WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti and he’s drawn against WBA super lightweight champion Vicious Vivian Harris.

The last fight old Julio had was against Frankie Randall on May 22nd last year in Mexico City’s Plaza de Toros. Frankie, who’s almost a year older than Julio, was the first man to defeat him, a decade earlier. Julio quickly avenged that and this third meeting we saw him win the rubber, but the slippage in power, condition and punching power was sad to behold.

Both mens’ timing was way off, each was a sitting target, yet neither had enough left in the tank to connect with a knockout punch. Both, who’d pot shotted,  rather than putting together any meaningful combinations were edging ever closer to exhaustion towards  the end, especially Julio who poured it all on for the last three minutes. His heart was there, but his ageing body was patently and patiently waiting to disobey him.

As he jumped back from the ropes, having saluted the faithful, his legs turned to rubber, momentarily going  in different directions, he wobbled and looked as if he was going to keel over. He regained his balance and you could hear an audible sigh of relief from the crowd. He said his final farewells, and urged the faithful to support his up and coming sons.

Ivan was just nine years old when Julio had his first fight less than two months shy of a quarter of a century ago.

Julio who’s also had his battles with the Mexican tax man insists that he’s reasonably comfortably off. So why this dreadful risk to his health and future well being?

This sad event is going to take place at the Staples Center, in LA on May 28th. It has to be hoped that Julio will genuinely try to get himself into some sort of shape. During his mega competitive career which saw him go 89 fights undefeated with a record 27 world title defenses, he was fighting so often that he was always in top nick. But no longer.

The real questions are: Who’s throwing him to the wolves and will anyone have the guts to save him from himself? Victorious Roman Generals returning to Rome used to be accompanied by a slave on the same chariot, occasionally whispering in their ear Thou art mortal. Isn’t there anyone who can sit down with Julio Cesar Chavez and finally convince him that enough is enough?

Can’t somebody find a fat lady to sing?