Chavez Jr. vs. Barker or Vera in Play For San Antonio

By Edward Chaykovsky

Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez will likely return in San Antonio, Texas on June 22 at the AT&T Center, according to veteran reporter John Whistler.

Lester Bedford, a marketer of sporting events who frequently works with Top Rank, told Whistler - “every conversation I've had with them indicate it's going to be San Antonio. We've got the venue reserved for both dates [June 15 and June 22]."

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum has already indicated that June 15 will not work because Chavez's suspension, related to a positive test for marijuana last September 15 after losing to Sergio Martinez, will still be in force until June 16. The leaves June 22 as the working date for HBO. The Texas Commission have June 22 set down for a Top Rank event.

The two frontrunners to face Chavez (46-1-1, 32KOs) include Brian Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) and Darren Barker (25-1, 16 KOs).