Story & Photos By Ramón Hernández

Julio César Chávez Jr. won a fourteen-round fight over Irishman John Duddy on Saturday, June 26^th by unanimous decision.

The fight took place at the Alamodome and a day prior to the event, Jorge Alejandro called to invite me to come out and take some pictures of him and Patsy Torres during an afternoon sound check. Alejandro was selected to sing the Mexican National Anthem and Patsy was chosen to sing the American Anthem.

However, they would not allow the press to enter until 4:30 p.m. and I missed the sound check. This meant I would now have to go the fight and I had to give the keynote speech to the River City Academy Class of 2010 at 6 p.m. at the far northwest Restoration Center in Leon Valley.

Giving a commencement speech was a new experience, but I got through it okay and after grabbing a quick bite, I made it back to the Alamodome by 9:35 p.m. arriving at the same time as Torres. She went to her seat and I walked around the long corridor of dressing rooms coming to a stop in front of Julio César Junior’s dressing room, where I ran into a police officer I knew. As we engaged in conversation, Julio César Sr. stepped out in a sharp tuxedo wearing a black rosary over it and a red headband that had ""6-26 Chavez Jr. 10" embroidered in white thread.

I had met the most celebrated athlete in México over twenty years ago and he remembered me. He didn’t say much, but before going out into the dome, he took off his headband, gave it to me and said, "put it on and nobody will question you being back here." Héctor Pavón took a quick picture of us, than he walked off.

This meant I had free reign as an honorary member of Team Chávez Jr. whom all sported the same headband.

The one awkward and embarrassing moment came when Alejandro sang the Mexican Anthem. Thirty seconds into the anthem people were whistling and cheering as the large overhead screens showed Julio César Jr. warming up in his dressing room. After that the monitors flashed his opponent, Irishman John Duddy doing the same thing. All of a sudden the entire audience of thousands started hissing and booing extremely loud. Meanwhile, Alejandro was not aware of the reason. His face turned white and registered sheer panic as he heard all the booing.

"I was devastated," Alejandro said afterwards. And he did not find out that the people were booing the image of Duddy on the screens, not Alejandro’s singing and I felt super bad for him, but he was alright after several people told him what had accidentally transpired.

I am not into boxing and after he and Torres sang, I was ready to go home, but I saw an empty spot on a ringside bench, I sat down, stayed and enjoyed the fight without snapping one photo. Realizing I had complete excess, I stayed until after the press conference. I was also invited to join the entourage for an early morning at Mi Tierra Restaurant. I decided to call it a night as I walked out as a new Julio César Jr. fan.

I admit I felt silly wearing that headband, but thanks to that token, I was able to take the exclusive photographs you see on this page -- all thanks to the six-time world boxing champion and Mexican icon.

Julio César Chávez musters a slight smile for the camera after giving this journalist his own headband.----------------Ramon Hernandez with Julio Cesar Chavez.

Singers Patsy Torres, Jorge Alejandro and an unidentified Irish vocalist were on hand to sing the Mexican,  American and the Irish national anthems before the main event. event.                                                                                                                                                               John Duddy enroute to the ring with his trainers.         

The smoke machine was at full power when Julio César Sr. and Jr. stood by their dressing room door waiting for the word to exit.

           Anticipation built up as the Team Chávez Jr., now at the entrance gate wait for the television camera to set up their shot; and as some lucky fans get a glimpse of their boxing idol

  Father, son and the Team Chávez Jr. walk pass the excited, screaming fans as they make their way to the ring .   Everyone reached the ring and this reporter sat down to enjoy the fight.                                                                             

As the referee announced his win, Chávez Sr. made his exit, went out the Alamodome and let his son bask in his win.

John Duddy was pretty beat up and in a snit as he pointed to his face and told his manager, “See this face, I have a right to be upset.

After the fight Julio César Jr. literally ran back to his dressing room where an attractive young lady waited for him. John Duddy didn’t look too bad after he cleaned up and put on a pair of dark glasses for the press onference.

Julio César couldn’t believe how many bruises he got as he looked into the mirror, but he took it all in stride as he walked toward the press conference room.

During the press conference he spoke in Spanish as an interpreter translated all questions and answers. When it was all over, Julio César flashed a big smile and posed for pictures. Afterwards the entire Team Chávez Jr. headed for Mi Tierra to enjoy an early morning meal.

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