At the second induction of boxing greats to the Illinois Boxing Hall Of Fame, Jesus Chavez (44-8, 30KO's) was honored alongside numerous boxing greats, including the great Muhammad Ali. The Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame dedicates and honors people from Illinois and those who participated in or contributed to Boxing in Illinois. Some of the other inductees, included Andrew Golota, Primo LaCassa, Genaro Rodriguez and James "Quick" Tillis.
Having spent his youth and many years in Illinois, and eventually becoming a world champion, it was a only fitting that he was honored along with the other numerous inductees to the Illinois Boxing Hall of Fame for 2016.
Chavez told ITR that one of the most memorable and toughest fights in his career, besides his two world title fights, was against Javier Jauregui (54-17, 37 KO's) of Mexico. Although Juaregi lost to Chavez in that fight for the vacant NABF featherweight title, Juaregi went on to become the IBF Featherweight champion and the NABF lightweight champion himself.
After defeating Jauregui for the NABF featherweight title, Chavez won the super featherweight title and went on to defend his title an unprecedented eleven times in only four years.
Chavez followed that up by capturing the WBC World super featherweight title in Austin, Texas against Sirimongkol Eaimthuam (91-2, 57 KO's) from Thailand. And out of the only two losses that Eaimthuam had, one was from Jesus Chavez. After winning that title, Chavez went on to win the IBF World lightweight title against Leavander Johnson (34-5, 26 KO's).
Chavez told ITR that he got the nickname of "El Matador" from a gym in Chicago where he trained, which was named 'The Matador." It was in this gym where his boxing skills developed and eventually he went on to become a world champion.
Chavez now resides in Dallas, Texas, where he is a boxing trainer for Maple Avenue Boxing Gym in Dallas, Texas, where numerous professional boxers train, including Maurice Hooker (21-0, 16 KO's), the current WBO/NABO super lightweight champion.
Complete List of Illinois Inductees:
Muhammed Ali
Jesus Chavez
Johnny Coulon
Sean Curtin
Rocky DiFazio
Mike Glienna
Andrew Golota
Clarence Griffin
Johnny Heard
Fred Houpe
James Kaulentis
Primo LaCassa
Jeff Lanas
Tony LaRosa
Vinny Letisia
The Fighting O’Shea Brothers – Brian, Mike, Rory, and Tom O’Shea
Alfonso Ratliff
Genaro Rodriguez
Barney Ross
Henry Sims
Jim Strickland
James “Quick" Tillis
