A STAR IS BORN

By: Charles Farrell

Showtime Championship Boxing presented what could have been a competitive double feature tonight from the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida on a show promoted by Don King Productions.

Circumstances beyond anyone's control ended the co-feature prematurely when, in the third round of the IBF lightweight championship bout between defending champion Jesus Chavez (43-4, 30 kayos) and challenger and former title holder Julio Diaz (34-3, 25 kayos), Chavez's knee went out and he collapsed while throwing a jab. Referee Frank Santore Jr. had no choice but to count him out and award the title to Diaz on a knockout. The official time was 28 seconds of the third round.

It was later determined that the hard-luck Chavez (whose last fight resulted in the tragic death of previous IBF champion Leavander Johnson) had suffered a joint separation to the knee.

"I did my job. I think I took his soul."

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