Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Parts Ways With Manager Keane

By Miguel Rivera

WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is no longer being represented by Billy Keane, who was managing the boxer since 2010. Keane had a very tense relationship with Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who felt the manager was destroying the fighter's career. Chavez is still involved in a legal dispute with Top Rank. He claims his promotional contract expired last month and Top Rank claims Chavez owes them one more fight and has until April of 2016 to satisfy that obligation.

The departure of Keane could be the first step to a resolution between Chavez and Top Rank. Chavez has also added his uncle, Rodolfo Chavez, as head coach. With Keane out as manager, a new manager could be coming. There have been rumors for several months that Chavez was being courted by powerful adviser Al Haymon.

"We are already making some changes for our return. We hope it's soon. We have not renewed our working relationship with Billy Keane. Things did not end badly with him and he continues to help in some things, but that's one of the changes we have done," said Chavez Jr. to ESPN Deportes. "We're taking it slow, let's make the best decision [regarding a new manager]."