By Miguel Rivera

Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is already training hard in Big Bear, California for a tentative return day of April 16th. The anticipated opponent is WBC super middleweight world champion Badou Jack. The venue is unknown, although Chavez's return is expected to take place in Las Vegas, Texas or California.

Chavez has been inactive since last July, when he won a ten round unanimous decision over Marcos Reyes. Chavez suffered a hand injury in the fight and was forced to have surgery. The rehabilitation kept him out of the ring for the remainder of the year.

He was present for the WBC's annual convention and requested a shot at Jack's belt. Jack was also at the recent convention and welcomed the opportunity to make a voluntary defense against the "son of a legend." Jack is in a voluntary stage after making a mandatory defense, with a decision win, against George Groves last September.

Chavez wants to become the first Mexican fighter to become a super middleweight champion. He may get beaten to that achievement, as one week prior Gilberto Ramirez challenges WBO champion Arthur Abraham on the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley undercard at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Chavez expects to have a meeting with trainer Robert Garcia on Wednesday to outline the training camp, the sparring partners, and where the camp will take place.

"The only thing I have so far is that the fight could take place on April 16. I already started training for Badou Jack, but I do not know if they already have an agreement with him. I know that would be that date and that Jack would be the opponent," said Chavez to ESPN Deportes.

Chavez, who turns 30 next month, has a record of 49-2-1 and 32 knockouts. Jack, 32-years-old, has a record of 20-1-1 and 12 knockouts.