Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is predicting a much better future for himself, after years of turmoil in his career.

Chavez Jr. has been training with Hall of Fame coach Freddie Roach, as he prepares for what he calls the "biggest fight of his career" against fellow former world champion Daniel Jacobs on December 20th in Arizona.

The contest takes place at the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds.

For Chavez Jr., it's his second bout since a May 2017 twelve round decision loss to countryman Saul "Canelo' Alvarez.

Chavez has only fought once since that defeat, a one round knockout of a journeyman in Mexico back in August.

The son of a legend maintains that his problems are now in the past.

"The problems that I've had have been distractions, not focusing on what is mine, not boxing, being lazy, being undisciplined... I would go and grab a substance to avoid reality but I no longer have that conviction, I want to be the best fighter the world and for that I have to work three times harder," Chavez Jr. told ESPN Deportes.

"I think this is the most important fight of my career, each one is the most important but I feel that life put me back in the position where I can take a position that I think belongs to me, but it's a position that belongs to someone due to discipline and work. Freddie Roach has been very hard on me and I like that because with my reputation you can no longer tell if I am well today or if I am not well tomorrow. For two months I go to the gym and I do not know what I will find, with who I will be sparring or what training I will do.. I just do whatever he says. I have to do it because he is getting me to my best.

"Roach is confident that I can win, he told me that he will not train me to lose because my career and my life require me to win this fight."

Chavez's participation on the card is a controversial topic, as the contest was original scheduled to take place in Las Vegas - but it was moved to Arizona after the Mexican star was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

They claim Chavez Jr. evaded a random drug test, when they had a testing agent show up at Roach's gym in Los Angeles. Chavez Jr. claims they had no right to test him, because he wasn't officially signed to face Chavez Jr.

Chavez Jr. has since filed a lawsuit against the NSAC to lift the suspension, as it may threaten his fight with Jacobs.