Would Chavez have been as successful if he had darker skin?

Question

As much as we wouldn't like for it to, skin color can make a big difference in a lot of things. Do you think it could have influenced the career of Julio Cesar Chavez?

Just for clarification, this question concerns Chavez's popularity in Mexico rather than his ability to box. Thanks to those who have already answered. :)

Answer 1

Yes I believe he would have been. You only need to look at Puerto Ricans and how boxer Wilfredo Gomez is a legend on the island, and he is light skinned. Baseball player Roberto Clemente is a legend in Puerto Rico and he was darker skinned.
This shows the greatness of the athlete and the person makes the legend, not the color of a person's skin. Chavez would have been immensely popular in Mexico, whether he were black, white or Indian, as long as he won exciting fights and represented the Mexican people's pride.

Gary Z
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Answer 2

I think I know what you mean: it is said that usually afro people are physically stronger than white people. You mean that if Julio Cesar Chavez had had darker color skin, he would have been stronger or more resistant, don't you?

Well, it is not that easy to know; but color skin does not have to do with the ability to fight always. You may be stronger than your oponent but he may fight better, and that could favor your oponent; and viceversa, the strongest might win too. Though I didn't watch too many fights of Chavez (since when his boxing career began I was still too young), I know Chavez battled against boxers from many ethnicities, and he won. He might have not been the strongest in all the battles, but his boxing ability made the difference.

Specially in the early 90's Chavez was at the top of his boxing career. Now, he is a legend of boxing in Mexico. The best boxer Mexico has given. Now he's the coach of his own son, who seems to be doing well too.

Answer 3

No, because sadly the upper crust of Mexico looks at the color of skin, and there is a known regard amongst these elite for light colored skin. I think it probably make them feel decent from their Indian roots and gives them the idea they are more civilized. Julio Cesar Chavez was good, but I think that if his skin were darker he would have been regarded as less of a big deal!

Answer 4

His skin color would have changed nothing. The joke about Chavez was that he piled up his victories fighting cab drivers in Mexico.
While he was a very good fighter, he is not an elite boxer. Don King would line up guys for Chavez to fight that had good boxing skills, but no power.
Later in his career they went for the big money fights and his record meant little.

Answer 5

If you are asking, Would Chavez be as popular successful if he was an Afro-Mexican or Black mexican? I would say no. You don't see a lot of Afro-Mexicans (native born mexicans with some african descent) in boxing, but usually if you do the countrys love of them is not as great. A mexican from Mexico told me once most black mexicans leave near the south and are treated like **** if the move further up, to where most Mestizo mexicans are. Look at the black mexican in the first contender boxing show. Look at Guty Espada (misspelled i know). Their country men's love is not as great as others.

Answer 6

What does his skin color have to do with anything? Julio Cesar Chavez was one of the great fighters of his era. He had a rock hard chin, great power, and relentless will. Only blemish was quitting on his stool in 2nd DeLaHoya fight. I don't see how his complextion played into that.

Answer 7

the color of a boxers' skin or ethnic group has nothing to do with a mans' ability to box. It has been said that chavez fought many so called"club fighters "in Mexico with little ability

Answer 8

I think not. The colour of the skin is not important in the work of julio Cesar Chavez

Answer 9

there is a lot of famous black people who are really popular in Mexico so i do not think that Mexico would had hold him back just because of his color . all Mexicans have always grow loving black people and in fact Mexico is the only country whit a black boy as a cartoon icon which is just as popular as mickey mouse . i would like to add that memin pinguin which is the name of this little cartoon boy usually was about not being racist and he has been popular for more than 40 years being the only one which has last this long in the whole world .

being black didn't hold Celia Cruz from becoming the most popular singer in Mexico neither it stop hector laboriel from being so popular . the number of black people on Mexico is not that big but if u ask any black person born in Mexico what their color is non of them will tell u that he is a black person , this is because since Mexico independence blacks mestizos and Spanish descendants have always been one .

before the independence of Mexico black people were treated worst than anyone , the hispaniards used to make them work even four times more than any indian person or mestizo . but when hidalgo decided he had had enough and that it was the time to free mexico he did it knowing that everyone should be freed from spain and their tirany and this included black people , so he decided to abolish slavery inspired in the American president . hidalgo was also padrino of many and one of those many was porfirio diaz who was the son of a woman who had adopted four one mestizos , one black , one spaniard and one indian . so being hidalgo a priest and padrino of porfirio who latter become president and latter betray mexico by becoming a dictator he understood the need to make sure that all were treated equally so he abolish slavery .

ever since blacks indians mestizos and the direct desentdants of spaniards become one and i can honestly say all become Mexicans . although there is still people who get discriminated in mexico just like in every place in the world nobody gets discriminated because of their color anymore but because of what they have , sad i say this .

Answer 10

I think you are right in a way, but i think the two main factors that held him back were the fact that he couldn't master the English language and the fact that he weren't born in America for them two reasons he never received the amount of hype that his record deserved, if either of them two factors had been true i don't think skin colour could come into it. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest by me to build a record like that i doubt will ever be achieved again, a true warrior.