IBF Orders Chavez-Taylor Rematch

Julio Cesar Chavez, the International Boxing Federation junior-welterweight champion, must defend his title in a rematch against Meldrick Taylor within six months, the IBF said.

Taylor lost to Chavez when referee Richard Steele stopped the 12-round fight with two seconds remaining on March 17 in Las Vegas. IBF President Bob Lee said the IBF agreed with the Taylor camp’s protest that referee Richard Steele erred in the final seconds of the fight.

Lee said Steele did not direct Chavez to return to the farthest neutral corner while the count was in progress.

“We are not saying he (Steele) shouldn’t have stopped the fight. We think he did the right thing to protect the fighter,” Lee said. “But if he stopped the count, who knows what might have happened?”