MEXICO CITY, 24 May 2004 — Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez beat Frankie Randall before a roaring home crowd on Sunday, bringing an end to his 24-year professional boxing career.

Once rated one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Chavez, 41, attacked Randall with the rising uppercuts and chopping overhand rights that made him a champion across three weight divisions to win by unanimous decision.

“Thank you for so much love and so much affection and so much applause,” an elated Chavez told the crowd at the open air Plaza Mexico bullring.

The victory settled an old score between the fighters, each of whom had a bruising, points win in two encounters in 1994.

Chavez suffered the first of just five losses in a 113 fight career to Randall in a Las Vegas title defense in January 1994, only to win it back four months later.

Now a grandfather, Chavez has retired before only to make a comeback. This time he has vowed to hang up his gloves for good.

“No Mexican has gone further than Julio Cesar Chavez,” Pedro Castillo, a 76-year-old retiree said after the bout, which had been billed by promoters as ‘Goodbye, Mexico ... Thanks.’

Making his professional debut in February 1980, Chavez won World Boxing Council titles in the super featherweight, lightweight and light welterweight divisions. Dubbed “J.C.,” Chavez has a loyal following among millions of fans across Latin America, and among the Mexican community in the United States.

Mayweather Makes Successful Debut at 140 Pounds

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, with the mythical title of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter now up for grabs, Floyd Mayweather Jnr made a statement by putting on a clinic in his 140-pound debut.

Mayweather dominated DeMarcus Corley from start to finish at Boardwalk Hall, recording an easy unanimous decision in his first fight as a junior welterweight.

The judges had Mayweather ahead by scores of 119-107, 119-108 and 118-108. He improved to 32-0 but failed to secure his 22nd knockout, although he did have Corley in trouble on a few occasions. Mayweather had been the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion from October 1998 to November 2001. After dominating that weight class, Mayweather captured the WBC lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Jose Luis Castillo in April 2002.