Chavez Rips Through NMAC in Dominant Victory, Domination Prevails!
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.