Badou Jack: I Only Wanted Chavez Jr. Because of His Name
Apr 13, 2016 • 2:42 AM ET
By Miguel Rivera
Badou Jack is only focused on one thing - his upcoming fight with Lucian Bute.
They are set to battle on April 30 at the DC Armory in Washington DC. Bute was originally being positioned to defend his WBC super middleweight title against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
The Mexican boxer suffered a heel injury and withdrew from the fight. Jack is now plotting a fall unification with IBF champion James DeGale, who faces Rogelio Medina in the co-featured bout on the Jack-Bute card. Both of them have to win their fights for the showdown to happen.
Jack is not going to stick around at super middleweight for too much longer. He plans to move up to the light heavyweight limit of 175-pounds in the near future.
It won't be a surprise if Jack moves up to the light heavyweight after a potential unification with DeGale. Up at 175 there are several options like WBC champion Adonis Stevenson of Canada.
"The reason I wanted the fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was because of his name," Jack said to ESPN Deportes. "I knew he was going to have to work very hard to make 168 pounds, but hey, they say he was injured. Things happen and you have to look forward. I only wish him the best."
"I think Bute is a good fighter. In his last fight there was a lot of action with DeGale and that is why he earned this opportunity. He's a solid fighter and I have to be focused at all times, then look to DeGale. I think for me it is the best to be at 168 pounds right now. I honestly do not think that I will be at 168 pounds for a long time."
