Sulaiman Says Chavez Jr. is Ready For Title Challenge

By James Blears

It’s soon going to be time to discover if Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is a chip off the old knock your block off and punch to the liver. Chavez Jr. ( 42-0, 30 KO’s) challenges for the WBC middleweight title, held by Germany’s Sebastian Zbik ( 30-0, 10 KO’s), at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 4th.

World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman who’s sometimes openly wondered about Julio Jr., is nevertheless confident that he’s now ready and fully motivated for his world title opportunity.

Sulaiman says that Julio Jr doesn’t possess the hunger of his father, because he wasn’t born into poverty and didn’t have to scrap for place at life’s table. He also comments that there have been times when Julio Jr. has been inconsistent and pedestrian with a boring one-two punch style, and that if he doesn’t change this, he’ll have problems in his career. But he also commented:

“The Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who’ll turn up for this fight night is the Chavez who wants to be the champion of the world. He has the spirit of a fighter, he has the dignity of his father and he is a very proud boxer.”

Sulaiman says that training with Freddie Roach has transformed Julio Jr. from complacent to honed and raring. There’s also an added bonus, because Julio Sr. has been helping with strategy and preparations, although it’s unlikely he’ll be in his son’s corner on fight night due to his high octane emotional fizz of a Pop..

Sulaiman complimented Sebastian Zbik as a worthy champion, undefeated and very fast, suggesting this fight will be a contest between a boxer and a puncher.