Thirty one Anniversary of Poker of Aces card – Chavez vs. Haugen

On February 20, 1993, one of the all time classics in sports occurred in Mexico, which also transcended borders and something of this magnitude may never happen again. The legend Julio César Chávez fighting Greg Haugen at the Estadio Azteca, in Mexico City, achieving a Guinness Record for the boxing event with the highest attendance in history with 132,274 paid tickets giving a grand total of 136,274 attendees in total.

That fabled evening was created by promoter Don King. For it he drew a vivid card along with the combined artistry of Televisa and the Azteca Stadium.

Gambling on historic greatness, he called it Pokar de Ases, because in addition to the fight between Chávez and Haugen, it included great title fights with legendary champions such as Terry Norris, Azumah Nelson and Michael Nunn, plus Félix “Tito” Trinidad:

Ghana’s Azumah Nelson defeated tough Mexican Gabriel Ruelas in a so close and competitive fight that went the full twelve rounds. Nelson did just enough in the ring to defend his WBC featherweight title.

In another thriller, Terry Norris took just 3:49 minutes to drop challenger, Maurice Blocker, to the canvas twice and oblige Referee Richsrd Steele to stop the fight. Norris retained the WBC super welterweight title with fists of thunder and lightning.

Not to be outdone, Michael Nunn amply demonstrated his southpaw power by knocking out Danny Morgan at 2:59 minutes of the first round, defending his WBA super middleweight title.

The Cesar del Boxeo turned the Estadio Azteca into a boxing arena extravaganza for the first and only time to date, where 136,274 fans gathered to see him confront audacious Greg Haughen.

The crescendo build up to the Megafight become searing and deeply personal, after the controversial and disrespectful statements of the American against the Mexican, because at that time he asserted that the record with which Chávez González arrived, was built based on facing “Tijuana taxi drivers.”

Such a provocative statement was not appreciated, especially by Julio who was then undefeated with 84 fights as a professional. It would not go unanswered, as JC vowed to blast out Greg without an iota of mercy.

Julio Cesar, born in Ciudad Obregón, Sonora but who crafted his boxing career within the portals of Culiacan, Sinaloa, was considered at that time the best Pound for Pound in the world, a situation that made him an idol within boxing, not only in Mexico, but also globally.

That night Greg Haugen was the first to enter the ring on a lonely walk, accompanied and bolstered by the song “Born in the USA” by Bruce Springsteen, it was evident that he keenly felt the intense pressure of the thousands of spectators who supported his rival. Julio entered the ring with the melody México Lindo y Querido, performed by Jorge Negrete, turning the Azteca Stadium into a roaring caldron. The ground literally shook! The scene was set!

In the first round, Chávez wasted no time in unleashing his awesome, chilling and irresistible power, knocking down Haugen with a crashing straight right thunderbolt. He really meant business! The uphill task and the downhill unraveling ordeal for Haugen would last five wincingly painful rounds, with left hooks ripping into his body, and straight rights thudding into his ashen face. Overwhelmed and shell shocked, he went into his shell, but there was nowhere to shelter from the unremitting barrage.

Julio Cesar Chávez could have finished it somewhat sooner, but he pointedly wanted to teach Greg Haugen some manners, respect and humility. But by the fifth Haugen was utterly spent and finished. Referee Joe Cortez dove in to stop the contest and to save him. With this win Julio triumphantly and emphatically defended his WBC super lightweight title. Thirty one years ago, the greatest boxer in Mexico set a record that still stands to this very day.