By Steve Kim
In the wake of his lopsided defeat to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez this past weekend at a catch-weight of 164.5 pounds, former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has made it clear that he will be moving back up to the super middleweight limit of 168.
One of the belt-holders in that division is fellow Mexican, undefeated Gilberto Ramirez, who is the WBO titlist and the first boxer from Mexico to capture a world title at super middleweight.
Ramirez and Chavez Jr. have exchanged words in the press on more than one occasion. So is there any chance of that match-up taking place in the near future?
When that question was posed to the promoter of Ramirez, Top Rank's Bob Arum, who was incredulous and profane.
"Are you kidding?!?! Are you f***ing kidding me?!?! Are you kidding me?!?!," Arum said to BoxingScene.com on Thursday morning.
"I mean, Jesus Christ, boxing has enough problems to put Julio Cesar Chavez Jr - who didn't even try - in front of the public, again. It's one thing a guy gets beat, fighters get beat all the time - but to not try on that stage."
Over twelve rounds on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Chavez Jr. put up very little resistance against Canelo, losing every single round on all three of the judges scorecards. His effort has brought about a cascade of criticism - and even his famous father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., is not holding back his anger over the performance.
"The guy I really feel sorry for is Julio Sr. who I think is a tremendous guy," continued Arum. "I consider him a good friend and I think his son demeanor and the way he fought that fight - or didn't fight - I think really humiliated the father."
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.
