NM boxing guru Chavez earned respect as NMAC chairman

The New Mexico Athletic Commission on Tuesday began its March meeting with a tribute to Joe Chavez, who served on the commission for some 13 years in two separate stints.

Chavez, who was the NMAC’s chairman from 2019-24, died from cancer on March 1. He was 81.

Current NMAC chairman Ed Manzanares said Chavez was generous with the knowledge he’d acquired during his years overseeing combat sports in the state.

“I’ve been on the commission now for four years,” Manzanares said during Tuesday’s meeting, “and I just really want to thank Joe for taking on a young rookie. … His experience was invaluable to me and his mentorship beyond this commission.

“I learned a lot from Joe. I know how much he cared for this commission. I know how much he cared for boxing and combat sports in New Mexico.”

Commission member Stephanie Jaramillo, a former amateur and pro boxer, said Chavez’s support had been invaluable during her career.

“I’ve known Joe almost my whole life,” Jaramillo said. “He was raised with my grandfather and when I was in the amateurs he financially helped me, emotionally helped me. He was a really good guy.”

Between his terms on the commission, Chavez staged nine cards as a boxing promoter. His cards were populated largely by New Mexico boxers. Albuquerque welterweight Josh Torres, among the state’s most accomplished and most popular boxers, fought on five of Chavez’s cards between 2012-15.

MENDOZA’S BACK: Cleveland High School graduate Brian Mendoza, the only fighter to have defeated current WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora, is scheduled to fight on the March 28 Fundora-Keith Thurman undercard in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mendoza (23-4, 17 knockouts) is matched against Cuba’s Yoenis Tellez (11-1, eight KOs) in a co-main event at the MGM Grand Garden.

Assuming, Fundora beats Thurman and Mendoza defeats Tellez — both unwarranted assumptions at this point — might that lead to a Fundora-Mendoza rematch?

Mendoza defeated Fundora in stunning fashion in Carson, California on April 8, 2023. Trailing badly on the scorecards through six rounds, the New Mexico native staggered Fundora with a left hook, then dropped him for the count with a right.

The victory earned Mendoza the WBC interim super welterweight title. But he lost by unanimous decision to Australia’s Tim Tszyu in a bid for the WBO super welter title, then lost by unanimous decision to Serhii Bohachuk — losses that dropped Mendoza out of the world title picture.

A victory over Tellez, with whom Mendoza shares Cuban heritage, could change that.

GOLDEN GLOVES: The 2026 New Mexico Golden Gloves amateur tournament is scheduled for March 20-22 in Roswell.

The number to call for information is 575-910-2222.

Winners in the Elite Division will qualify for New Mexico-Colorado regionals, scheduled for April 18 in Longmont, Colorado. Winners at regionals will qualify for Golden Gloves nationals, scheduled for May 11-16 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.