Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez Sr is often credited with being one of the greatest fighters to have ever graced the sport.

Throughout the course of his decorated 25-year professional career, Chavez fought 115 times whilst producing an outstanding 107 victories prior to his retirement in 2005.

He captured multiple world titles across several weight classes along the way, with the bulk of his success coming during the 1990s where he racked up wins over the likes of Greg Haugen, Hector Camacho and Meldrick Taylor.

Father Time eventually caught up with Chavez who called time on his glittering career shortly after he suffered a crushing defeat to America’s Grover Wiley in September of 2005.

In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Chavez spoke highly of former rival Jose Luis Ramirez who he claims was the strongest fighter he ever crossed paths with.

“He was a southpaw who not only took a good shot but he gave a good shot. The fact he could land a punch and hurt you and take a punch and not be hurt, that was his greatest virtue.”

Chavez got the better of Ramirez when they clashed at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas back in October 1988, defeating his countryman via technical decision to unify the WBC and WBA world lightweight titles after Ramirez suffered a serious cut.

Ramirez called time on his career just two years after his defeat to Chavez, walking away from the sport in 1990 with 102 victories against just 9 defeats, with 82 of those victories coming by knockout.