Chavez Stops Mayweather in 2nd Round, Retains WBC Super Featherweight Title

Julio Cesar Chavez dropped former champion Roger Mayweather twice with crushing right hands Sunday before stopping him at 2:30 of the second round to retain his World Boxing Council super featherweight title.

Mayweather actually was down four times in the second round, but referee Richard Steele ruled that two of them were slips as Mayweather tried desperately to keep away from the onrushing champion.

Chavez, of Mexico, turned the fight around with a right hand to the side of the head midway through the second round that buckled Mayweather’s knees. Mayweather was down a few seconds later after a barrage of punches, but Steele ruled it a slip.

Chavez landed another right that put Mayweather down for an eight count, and the former 130-pound champion was wobbly when action resumed.

Mayweather went down again in what Steele called a slip, but a left-right to the head seconds later dropped Mayweather for the final time.