By CompuBox
Of the junior weight classes that supplemented the “original eight,” the 140-pound division has arguably spawned the most talent and boasted more than its share of terrific contests. The following is just a small sampling of the fights that make junior welterweight such a celebrated division:
April 24 and September 10, 1931: Tony Canzoneri vs. Jack “Kid” Berg” – These two Hall of Famers clashed twice within a five-month span and since lightweight champion Canzoneri and junior welterweight king Berg scaled below 135 both titles were on the line.
This match-up pitted Berg’s perpetual motion attack against Canzoneri’s speed and science. The first fight held at Chicago Stadium in April saw Berg apply heavy pressure during the opening two rounds but Canzoneri’s upper body movement effectively blunted it. But lightning struck in the third when the relatively light-hitting Canzoneri flattened the Briton for the full 10 with a flush hook-cross to the chin.
The rematch was originally scheduled for “The Whitechapel Whirlwind’s” native London but was moved to the Polo Grounds in New York. The new venue greatly benefited the hometown hero Canzoneri, for if the bout had been held in Britain he would have been disqualified for a low blow that floored Berg in the eighth. Under New York rules, however, a fighter could not win or lose on a foul so referee Patsy Haley counted over Berg as if a legitimate knockdown had been scored. Canzoneri went on to score a unanimous decision.
June 23 and September 12, 1933: Barney Ross vs. Tony Canzoneri – Here’s a case of déjà vu: First, the lightweight and junior welterweight belts were on the line. Second, the first bout was held in Chicago and the rematch was staged at the Polo Grounds. Third, the contests were staged within months of each other. Finally, the fights boasted their share of action and controversy.
Their initial clash featured plenty of exchanges as Ross utilized his razor-sharp jab and superior defensive skills while Canzoneri used his strength, aggression and slightly harder punch as a counterbalance. After 10 rounds the judges awarded a majority decision to Ross.
The rematch was far chippier as Canzoneri lost the sixth, eighth and ninth rounds on low blows, which proved pivotal because had Canzoneri won those stanzas, Ross’ split decision victory (9-2-4, 8-4-3 for Ross and 8-7 for Canzoneri) would have turned into a split nod for Canzoneri. (7-5-3, 11-4 and 5-6-4).
May 17, 1975: Antonio Cervantes vs. Esteban DeJesus – A champion for more than three years, Colombia’s “Kid Pambele” was making the ninth defense of his WBA title against DeJesus, his highest profile challenger yet due to his two clashes with lightweight terror Roberto Duran. The persona of “Manos de Piedra” was unavoidable as this bout was staged on Duran’s home ground in Panama City.
The taller Cervantes’ exquisite boxing skills, long wiry physique and two-fisted power overwhelmed the ex-lightweight king. Knockdowns in the first and 15th rounds paved the way to a commanding 148-135, 148-138, 148-136 decision.
March 6, 1976: Wilfred Benitez vs. Antonio Cervantes – After disposing of DeJesus, Cervantes added two wins, including an impressive eighth round KO of Hector Thompson to defend his WBA belt. The 30-year-old champion was a heavy favorite to notch his 11th defense against undefeated Puerto Rican prodigy Wilfred Benitez, who at 17 years 6 months was one of the youngest fighters ever to challenge for a title.
But on a rain-swept night in San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium history was made as the precocious Benitez befuddled Cervantes with his hand speed and radar-like defense. The split decision for Benitez not only rocked the boxing world but also scuttled the prospect of a Duran-Cervantes superfight for the 140-pound title.
November 12, 1982 and September 10, 1983: Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello – “The Hawk” and “The Explosive Thin Man” may have had different personalities and ring approaches, but their careers were propelled by the same fuel. They shared an enormous sense of pride, an unyielding desire to distance themselves from humble beginnings and a yearning to achieve a lasting legacy.
From the moment this fight was signed, everyone knew that this clash of fire versus ice and chaos versus control would produce fantastic fistic theater – and that’s exactly what they got. The first fight was voted Fight of the Decade as Pryor’s Greb-like ferocity and Arguello’s icy science blended perfectly for 13 brutal rounds. The fight turned in the 14th when a series of rocket-like rights snapped Arguello’s head grotesquely and left him in a semi-conscious haze. The victory earned Pryor the universal respect he so craved while denying Arguello his quest for a then-unprecedented fourth divisional crown.
Arguello promised to give his “last drop of blood” in the rematch and he was as good as his word. Still, it wasn’t enough. Pryor scored knockdowns in the first and fourth and survived an Arguello mid-rounds rally to score a resounding 10th round TKO.
March 17, 1990 and September 17, 1994: Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor – Like Pryor-Arguello, the first fight featured two worthy occupants of the pound-for-pound lists that boasted vastly contrasting skills. Chavez was a relentless body-punching aggressor with pinpoint sharpness and a cast-iron jaw while Taylor was a slick speedster armed with the sport’s fastest hands and a healthy helping of Philadelphia attitude.
Taylor’s incredible speed and mobility vaulted him to a huge early lead but the steadfast Chavez continued to plug away in the hopes of creating chinks in his rival’s armor. One early punch broke Taylor’s orbital bone and another opened a gaping wound inside Taylor’s mouth. The middle rounds saw Taylor slow down precipitously and Chavez managed to claw his way back into the fight. Still, he was behind on two scorecards entering the 12th and with less than 30 seconds remaining Chavez scored a knockdown. Because Taylor’s attention was divided the moment referee Richard Steele asked if he was OK, the referee controversially waved off the fight with just two seconds left on the clock.
The rematch four-and-a-half years later followed a similar pattern as a rejuvenated Taylor dazzled Chavez with early speed only to have “J.C. Superstar” catch him in the eighth.
June 7, 1996: Oscar de la Hoya vs. Julio Cesar Chavez I – This was the classic confrontation of an eager young lion in the 23-year-old “Golden Boy” against the grizzled 98-fight veteran in Chavez. Although this was their first official fight, it was not their first encounter in the ring. Several years earlier, while De La Hoya was still an amateur, they clashed in a three-round public sparring session that saw Chavez floor his spirited young rival when he got too fresh.
The fight itself was an anti-climax as the lightning fast and laser-sharp De La Hoya opened a massive cut over Chavez’s eye less than a minute into the first round. The blood cascaded throughout the remainder of the contest and De La Hoya’s crisp combinations only added insult to injury. Referee Joe Cortez had little choice but to stop the bloodletting in the fourth with De La Hoya comfortably ahead on all scorecards.
November 3, 2001: Kostya Tszyu vs. Zab Judah – Entering this crucial unification bout against his WBA/WBC counterpart, the flashy New Yorker was poised to become America’s next boxing superstar. The southpaw Judah possessed lightning-quick hands, dazzling footwork and hip-hop New York charisma, a package that inspired Sports Illustrated to produce a glowing 11-page spread usually reserved for the likes of Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Wayne Gretzky and the duo of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Therefore, the IBF titleholder entered the Tszyu bout as a betting favorite, but the Russian-turned-Australian boasted a deeper championship resume. In two reigns spanning six years, Tszyu had notched 11 successful defenses and defeated the likes of Jake Rodriguez, Roger Mayweather, Diosbelys Hurtado, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Julio Cesar Chavez and Sharmba Mitchell along with Rafael Ruelas, Diosbelys Hurtado, Calvin Grove and Juan LaPorte in non-title bouts.
Judah’s speed appeared to trouble Tszyu in the first and he captured the round on all three scorecards. The pattern continued in the second until “The Thunder from Down Under” struck with startling suddenness. A vintage right to the jaw caused Judah to wobble, pitch forward face-first and then arise on terribly unsteady legs before crashing to the floor again. At this point referee Jay Nady stopped the fight, causing a furious Judah to lash out at Nady and others surrounding him with such fury that he was subsequently suspended.
Meanwhile, the calm and classy Tszyu accepted his accolades and resumed methodically paving the road that eventually led to the halls of Canastota.
Other notable clashes have taken place since Tszyu disposed of Judah 10 years ago. They include Tszyu’s rematch blowout of Sharmba Mitchell, Ricky Hatton’s inspirational upset of Tszyu in 2005, Timothy Bradley’s multiple off-the-floor triumph over fellow titleholder Kendall Holt and Amir Khan’s stirring victory over power puncher Marcos Maidana in December. Will Saturday’s showdown between Bradley and Devon Alexander live up to the standards their predecessors established?
That’s why were tuning in – to find out that answer.
NOTABLE JR. WELTERWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS
11/3/2001 Kostya Tszyu KO 2 Zab Judah
6/7/96 Oscar de la Hoya KO 4 JC Chavez
3/17/90 JC Chavez KO 12 Meldrick Taylor
11/12/82 Aaron Pryor KO 14 Alexis Arguello
3/6/76 Wilfred Benitez W 15 (spl) Antonio Cervantes (Benitez wins title at age 17)
5/17/75 Antonio Cervantes W 15 Esteban DeJesus
6/23/33 Barney Ross W 10 (maj) Tony Canzoneri
9/12/33 Barney Ross W 15 (spl) Tony Canzoneri