Arum: Chavez Jr. Has A lot of Talent, Lacks The Discipline

By Miguel Rivera

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum believes former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (49-2-1, 32KOs) can still be a force in the sport.

Top Rank promoted Chavez's entire career until the boxer decided to go in another direction in the second half of 2014 and signed on with manager/adviser Al Haymon.

Chavez's jump to Haymon has not been as successful as both parties intended. In his first fight of 2015, he was stopped for the first time in his career by top light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara. He came back a few months later and won a decision over Marcos Reyes, but injured his hand in the fight. The injury knocked him out of the ring for the remainder of the year.

Arum says Chavez has the talent and the required tools, but he lacks the necessary discipline to take himself to the next level. The boxer has been battling weight issues for his last few fights. He also switched trainers twice last year. He started off the year with Joe Goossen and closed the year with Robert Garcia.

"Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has enormous talent. He has a lot of tools that could make him dangerous in boxing, but unfortunately he decided to take another path in his career and he decided not to have the discipline that is required in this sport. I wish him well, because I'm close with his entire family...including his father who is a good friend of mine," said Arum.

"He's a good fighter who fails to accomplish what he wants in his career. He can still do a lot and I do not think his career is near the end."

Chavez is potentially coming back on April 16th in a title fight against WBC super middleweight beltholder Badou Jack.