By Rafael Soto

Culiacan, Sinaloa - Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., according to Top Rank and Zanfer Promotions, will return on Saturday January 29 at the football stadium Dorados de Culiacan in Sinaloa. The fight will be broadcast on Fox Sports and in Mexico on TV Azteca. American boxer Billy Lyell has been confirmed as the opponent for Chavez.

Fernando Beltran, president of Zanfer, said the 2011 boxing season begins in Culiacan, the capital of boxing, because Zanfer is committed to the people of Sinaloa.

"One of the objectives in the administration of Governor Mario Lopez is turning the Sinaloa into capital of boxing and we are committed to helping the Governor with the idea to present good boxing to enthusiasts, such as the show in Sinaloa starting with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on January 29," said Beltran.

Lyell (22-8-0, 4 KOs), an American 26-year-old, was selected to field test Chavez before a WBC world championship bout on March 26, so a lot is at risk in the fight. There has been talk of Chavez facing WBC interim-champion Sebastian Zbik. Chavez is the WBC silver champion at 160-pounds. 

Lyell, the opponent for Chavez Jr., fought for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title against German Sebastian Sylvester in January 2010. He was stopped in the tenth round. In his career, Lyell has achieved important victories, as in April 2009 when he beat the world ranked, and unbeaten, John Duddy, by split decision.