It's really hard to see sports heroes walk in the end of the sunset. Since they have performed better than their peers, it is expected of them to continue winning titles as long as they live. Yet, everything on earth has an ending. And these fairy-tale endings will serve as inspiration for future generations of sports icons.

I wouldn't be publishing this if I haven't seen the last ever bout of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez. At age 42, he has finally hung up his glove. Never worry though Chicanos for Julio Jr. and Jesus Chavez will add up to the legacy brought by Julio Sr.

Donning the national colors of his homeland, Chavez fought former NABA champion Ivan Robinson for a ten-bout, non-title, showdown. At the pre-introduction part of the match, Robinson showed what no boxer has ever given to his opponent while in the ring: respect. When Chavez's name was called, Robinson even did the praising gesture infront of Chavez and even kissed him on the cheek.

I did not expect much from the rounds of the match but I intently watched for one of the boxers that I truly admire will be punching his last few blows. There was a surprise though in the 4th round when Chavez even knocked down Robinson.

The decision that came out was expected: a victory for Chavez. Well, two theories can be formed as to why he won: respect or strength.

Maybe for Robinson, giving a victory to Chavez in his last bout ever is the best form of respect he can possibly give. It was evident in the match that Robinson was operating in subtlety: counterpunching a few times and combining these with quick spurts of offensive combination which I thought that were not meant to hurt Chavez. It was like Chavez was just having a sparring session with a fellow trainee in their gym.

On the other hand though, Chavez has the figures to prove that he hasn't lost his touch though his age is on the rise. I remember Chavez having a fight against the Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya approximately 7 years ago (this bout was even televised live on Citynet 27 before). I haven't remembered de la Hoya's exact boxing record though I know that he was still undefeated at that time. As for Chavez, his record before that bout will be programmed in my mind as long as I live.

97 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw with 79 knockouts: that was Chavez's bout tally in that moment. Take note also that that fight was his 100th professional bout. Sad to say, Chavez lost that in that classic fist exchange.

Fast forward to the Chavex-Robinson match and before Julio Sr. took the stage before his last dance, his record stood at 106 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws with 88 wins coming by the way of knockout. Now, simple Mathematics would tell you that 106 minus 97 is 9 while 88 minus 79 is also equal to 9. This means that all of Chavez's bouts after the de la Hoya bout that I have mentioned were won by him and all by the way of knockout. And considering that he was already around 35 years old, this is such a feat for it's rare for boxers to still perform well when they reach their mid-30s.

He won his last bout though he wasn't the Chavez of old. The flashy, resilient and quick Julio Sr. that we have seen in his younger days was not seen in him anymore. The footwork has left him but a bit of his punches was still evident.

Though he has reached what is inevitable to every athlete, he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest boxers who ever wore those gloves. His 107 victories is enough justification of how he has built his reputation of not just being one of the greatest but also being one of the most durable boxers in the planet.

His place in the hall of fame is sure and his number of victories might not be matched by any boxer in this era because of those one-time, big-money matches.

As a three-time world champion and a winner of 100 victories, Julio Cesar Chavez is an inspiration to all boxers slugging it out night in and night out. And his place in boxing Olympia has long been cemented.