by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza can’t understand the weight problems of former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., whose fight against No.1 contender Brian Vera will be at a catch-weight of 173 pounds over ten rounds when it was originally discussed for 163 pounds over twelve rounds.

Ariza who was previously working with Chavez Jr. told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that trainer Freddie Roach had indicated he would not train Chavez Jr. if Ariza was involved, adding “everybody wants to get me out and this is the kind of thing that happens.”

Ariza said he couldn’t understand how Julio could have gone up in weight when he’s been training for six months.

There have been indications that Chavez Jr., son of the legendary Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., may consider working with 2012 “Trainer of the Year” Robert Garcia after the Vera fight which is scheduled for Saturday at the StubHub Center  in Carson, California and will be telecast over ABS-CBN’s Studio 23.

Ariza told us he has long been friends with Chavez Jr. and would like to help him out.

Brian Vera’s trainer, Ronnie Shields, told BoxingScene’s Rick Reeno that Vera was financially compensated for allowing Chavez the additional pounds.
 
Shields told Boxingscene.com, "We explained everything to Brian of what can happen in the fight with the weight and ultimately it was Brian's decision to go forward with the fight. He said 'I trained too long not to fight. This is the best shape that I've ever been in."
 
The trainer said Vera “trained 17 weeks for the fight if you total everything up from the beginning of when we first started this [training camp] until now. He said what he wanted, he got what he wanted and he feels good about it. The most important thing is that Brian feels good about it and got what he wanted."