Julio Cesar Chavez Jr: First Fight of the Rest of His Career

By Jake Donovan

Given the set weight limit, you can figuratively and literally say this weekend represents the biggest fight of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr’s career.

The second-generation boxer takes on Top 10 light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara, in what marks his first bout in over a year. The 13+ month break was forced in large part due to a drawn-out legal battle with estranged promoter Top Rank, with the final terms only recently worked out to allow Chavez Jr. to resume with a career many believe remains unfulfilled.

Between the down time and his past training habits (or lack thereof), there exists legitimate concern that he’s biting off more than he can chew in this weekend’s headliner at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Even with a catchweight of 172 lbs. in place, the onus is on Chavez Jr. to prove he has enough left to offer the sport, and not that he’s just coasting along on his famous father’s coattails.

For what it’s worth, the former middleweight titlist – just 29 years old and with time left to carve out something more positive of his career – is talking up a good game, well aware of the bad memories he’s left behind and that a new day is in store.

“I’m training very well,” Chavez Jr. promises. “I’m training (at a higher) level than the best. I’m doing more physical training (and I’m getting closer to the) weight of 172 pounds. And I think I’m in great shape, you know? I have a lot of time and don’t stay in this kind of shape.”

The mentality Chavez Jr. (48-1-1, 32KOs) carries around these days is similar to the mindset heading into his first middleweight title defense versus Peter Manfredo.

To some, their Nov. ’11 bout was a joke of a championship contest, with nothing more than a paper belt at stake. For the then-unbeaten rising young star from Mexico, it meant a greater responsibility now that he held the green and gold belt.

Chavez Jr. was already in shape before entering training camp, a lesson learned in his struggle to squeeze down to 160 for his title win that previous June. There were no issues at the scales or in the ring as he dismantled Manfredo Jr. in five rounds.

That desire to succeed at the highest level has been missing from his career, most notably since his lone loss to then-World middleweight king Sergio Martinez in Sept. ’12. Chavez Jr. scored a dramatic knockdown in an unforgettable 12th round. However, the fact that Martinez got up and finished the fight brought to surface the 11-0 deficit Chavez carried entering the final round, ultimately losing a landslide decision.

Post-fight drug tests revealed traces of marijuana in his system, his second time failing a urinalysis which resulted in a year-long suspension.

All we’ve seen of Chavez Jr. since then was a young man who is still a TV ratings draw; just not a fighter who can any longer compete at the championship level. Marked improvement came from his first fight with Bryan Vera to their rematch last March. Chavez Jr. was so out of shape for the first fight in Sept. ’13 that his team had to beg for a modified weight limit in order to avoid a fine. He ultimately tipped the scales at 172½ lbs. for a fight that resulted in a debatable decision win.

The rematch was far less dramatic in that regard. Chavez Jr. showed up in shape (relatively speaking), weighing 167½ lbs. in a much cleaner win last March. The bout was his last to date. A showdown with Gennady Golovkin was thought to be next, but a dispute with Top Rank over the remaining length of their contract together instead put his next fight in the California court circuit.
 
Now part of the ever-growing advisory stable of Al Haymon and trained by Joe Goossen, Chavez Jr. seems to be in good hands heading into Saturday’s bout, which marks his debut as a Showtime headliner. Naturally, the question remains how effective he can be both at the weight and following 13 months out of the ring.

“I feel good. I know it’s difficult when you’re off. It’s difficult to regain your timing,” Chavez Jr. acknowledges. “But I’ve been training, working at my skills. And I think, you know, I’m very confident because I have spent all my life in boxing.

“I’m in the 13th year of my professional career. So I don’t think this is a problem because this fight is at 172 pounds. I don’t need to have a problem with weight. And at 172, I feel good in sparring. I feel good in training. And I think I’m ready for this fight and ready to win another world title.”

With a win on Saturday, it is believed that such a title run will take place in the 168 lb. division. The move makes sense from a physical standpoint as well as a political one.

“I think, after this fight, I’m going down to 168 and stay in that weight class,” Chavez Jr. believes. “One or two years ago I moved to 175 but that was too much for my body. Now, I’m 168. But, for the one year off, this fight is at 172.”

The only super middleweight who wouldn’t make the cut, sadly, is the division’s true World lineal champion Andre Ward. His recent alliance with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports all but kills the chances of interdepartmental cooperation, considering that Jay Z (through his wife and superstar recording artist Beyoncè) and Haymon have history.

Given Ward’s own lengthy layoff and desired soft touch for his first fight back, his being out of the mix hardly harms the process. Haymon already has one super middleweight titlist, Anthony Dirrell while his brother Andre prepares to fight for a vacant title next month in Boston.

The remaining titlist in the division is Carl Froch, the brave warrior whose rèsumè over the last six years of his career is arguably the strongest in the sport. As such, the long-reigning titlist – now in the twilight of his career – has become a bit more selective in opposition, eyeing nothing but superfights from here on out.

A clash with Chavez Jr. is high on his list, and in fact targeted for this past March before a shoulder injury put the Brit on ice until the summer. Once healed, such a showdown will once again be heavily discussed, especially with the amount of business Haymon and Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn will be conducting in the coming weeks.
 
Of course none of that means anything without a convincing performance this weekend. In further proof of the maturation process, Chavez Jr. is well aware that he needs more than just a win – and worst, to just show up – in order to convince the masses.

“With regards to the performance, I can tell you that, this show is for the people,” Chavez Jr. promises. It’s going to be a great fight. With my new promotion company and with knowing who my opponent is going to be in advance, I think it’s going to be a great night.”

It will need to be, if he still intends to have a great career.
 
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox