Childhood Heroes:
"Johnny Bench,
Miguel Marin - the
goalkeeper on the
Mexican team. Born
in Argentina. He was
a very strong, very
imposing
personality."
Hobbies/Interests:
"Play drums,
listen to music,
read about boxing."
Favorite Movies: "Stand By
Me, Platoon, Wall Street."
Musical Tastes: "Rock, Pink
Floyd, Allan Parsons Project,
Eagles, Boston."
Favorite Book: "Canasta de
Cuentos by Bruno Travent."
Childhood Dream: "My first
dream was to be a professional
boxer. When I was five I visited the
dressing room of (Jose) 'Mantequilla'
Napoles. And I saw him lying down in
his bed after his fight with Armando
Muniz (in Mexico City in 1975), with
his eyes fully open because of cuts.
That's when I decided not to be a
boxer."
First Job: 'Selling figs from
our tree at home to the neighbors.
And the big fig was saved to my dad
as he would pay double.'
First Car: 'Volkswagen Caribe.'
Early Boxing Memory: "I was
very little and didn't speak any
English (age 3). I remember I went
downstairs in my house. Then I
turned around and saw two huge black
men - Don King and Larry Holmes. The
size they had was impressive to me."
Favorite Meal: 'I love pizza,
Wendy's hamburgers and any kind of
Japanese food.'
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
'Vanilla.'
Pre-Fight Feeling: "I'm very
nervous. I am impotent of not being
able to express the feeling. And I
have to be neutral, can't take one
side. I feel a lot of impotence for
that. All the emotions for a big
fight can only compare with a World
Series event for baseball."
Greatest Boxing Moment:
'Standing in the middle of the ring,
right next to my father ' who is my
hero ' looking and listening to
136,000 fans welcoming Julio Cesar
Chavez into the ring at the Aztec
Stadium in his fight with Greg
Haugen February 20, 1993. It was
amazing, incredible, a great
memory.'
Most Painful Moment: 'Sitting
in the WBC office, receiving the
call from the lawyers stating that
the WBC had 30 days to liquidate.
And seeing Mr. Victor Cota ' who has
been 30 years with the WBC '
clearing his desk, looking at those
papers he kept in his drawer, and
tears flowing through his eyes.
Fortunately the WBC is alive and
better than ever.'
Favorite Boxing Movies:
'Hurricane, Rocky I & 3, and
Cinderella Man.'
Favorite Boxers To Watch:
"Jose Napoles - they didn't give him
the opportunity for the title for a
long time. And when he got it, he
demonstrated he was one of the best
boxers (Napoles defeated Curtis
Cokes by TKO 13 for World
Welterweight title in 1969 at age 29
- his 11th year as a pro). Ray
Leonard. Julio Cesar Chavez - he did
so much for Mexican boxing. Mike
Tyson. Ricardo Lopez.'
Funny Boxing Memory: 'Don
Majeski and Yamil Chade arguing at a
WBC convention. It turned ugly and
they wanted to fight each other,
screaming and shouting in the hotel.
While Mr. Majeski would say bad
words and was being held back by two
persons, Yamil Chade, with his
traditional accent would scream back
to Don, YOU FRIED CHICKEN!, thinking
it was a huge insult [smiles]. A few
minutes later they were hugging each
other and friends again.'
Favorite Fights: "Salvador
Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez. There
has always been a big rivalry
between Mexico and Puerto Rico. They
used to dominate Mexico before that
fight - Gomez defeated like eight
Mexican boxers before. Esteban
DeJesus, Wilfredo Benitez, then
Sanchez destroyed Gomez. That fight
was incredibly viewed in Mexico.
Chavez-Taylor I."
Interesting Fact: "I would
say I like very much to know people
well. I don't like to get to know
people superficially. I want to get
to know them better."
Education: Technical
University of Mexico (Management).
People Qualities Most Admired:
'Loyalty, honor, truthfulness,
leadership, good sense of humor.
Ability to speak in public and
capture attention. And the ability
to write profound messages.'
