Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. claims he is motivated for second stage of his career

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as known as a world-class fighter who isn’t crazy about training. But the former middleweight champion said Thursday he is ready to not only get back into the ring after a year off, he suggested he’s going to be better than ever.

“It’s like a dream,” said Chavez, who Sept. 28 will take on Bryan Vera in a super middleweight fight at StubHub Center in Carson (on HBO). “You think about the comeback, and it’s finally here. This is like the second stage of my career.

“I’m very motivated. I’m going to show everyone I can be the best in the world, pound-for-pound.”

Chavez will be trained by his longtime assistant trainer, Vladimir Baldenebro, for this fight. His father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., will assist.

Chavez will go without his regular trainer, Freddie Roach, as Roach is tied up with several other fighters, including Manny Pacquiao. Chavez said Thursday at a news conference in Los Angeles that Roach will be back in his corner after this fight.

Chavez, 27, is 46-1-1 with 32 knockouts. He last fought Sept. 15, 2012, when he lost his title to Sergio Martinez via unanimous decision at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Chavez subsequently tested positive for marijuana and was suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He was also fined $900,000, but that fine was later reduced to $100,000.

This fight with Vera, 31, was supposed to take place Sept. 7 at Staples Center. But Chavez sustained a cut on his right eyelid during sparring, and it was postponed.

Vera, of Austin, Texas, is 23-6 with 14 knockouts.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. surmises Marquez, not Alvarez, most popular Mexican

Much has been made about the popularity of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in his native Mexico. If you listen to executives from Golden Boy Promotions, they’ll tell you that Alvarez is the most popular fighter there  today, that he is treated like a rock star.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. isn’t so sure about all that.

“Among Hispanic/Mexican/Latin fighters, I don’t really know who has the biggest following,” Mayweather said. “But if I had to say so, I would say probably (Juan Manuel) Marquez because he has accomplished more and done a lot for the sport of boxing. So I don’t support the thought that ‘Canelo’ has a bigger following than (Marquez).”

Mayweather (44-0, 26 KOs) and Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) will tangle in a junior middleweight title fight Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

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HBO will televise from three countries Sept. 28, leading with Chavez-Vera

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of Mexico and Bryan Vera of Austin, Texas will square off in a super middleweight fight Sept. 28 at StubHub Center. The fight will be televised by HBO, but that’s only a third of what HBO will be showing that night.

It will also televise the light  heavyweight title fight between Adonis Stevenson and Tavoris “Thunder” Cloud from Montreal, and the heavyweight fight between former champion David Haye and Tyson Fury from Manchester, England.

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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has good answer in response to question about potential

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico just turned 23 in July. But he has 43 fights, and he is 42-0-1 with 30 knockouts, so he has accomplished a lot. He was asked Tuesday at his training camp in Big Bear about his potential, and he came with a pretty cool response.

“I’ve always said that I’ve never fought to my potential, but that’s because I’ve never had an opponent to bring it out,” said Alvarez, who will take on Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a junior middleweight title fight Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view). “I feel that maybe Mayweather will be the one to bring it out.”

Mayweather, 36, is 44-0 with 26 knockouts and is the consensus king of the pound-for-pound poll.

 

 

 

 

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U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren added to Monday’s card on Fox Sports 1

Three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren has been added to Monday night’s Golden Boy Promotions card in San Antonio that will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

Warren (5-0, 3 KOs), of Cincinnati, will take on light-hitting Omar Gonzalez (6-8, 1 KO) of San Antonio in the bantamweight division.

Warren, 26, boxed in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, losing in the first round all three times.

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Floyd Mayweather Jr. workout streamed live today from his Las Vegas camp

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will work out for the media today at his gym in Las Vegas, and it will be streamed live from 3:45-6 p.m.

Mayweather and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez of Mexico will square off Sept. 14 in a junior middleweight title fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas (on Showtime pay-per-view).

Today’s workout can be viewed on www.sports.sho.com/live, www.goldenboypromotions.com and www.mayweatherpromotions.com. All feeds will be available on high definition.

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Featherweight contender Joel Brunker seeks shot at a world title

Joel Brunker, a featherweight out of Australia, is ranked in the top 10 by two of the four major governing bodies. In his mind, it’s time for a world-title shot.

“I’m ready to fight for a world title,” said Brunker, 27. “I’ve fought many styles as I worked my way up the rankings. In those fights I’ve gained a lot of experience. My skills have enhanced tremendously and I feel confident in my ability to capture a world title.”

Brunker’s co-promoter, Gary Shaw, is of a similar mind.

“Joel Brunker is a tremendous fighter.” Shaw said. “He’s improved immensely in the last few years. He’s got a great chin and he’s a powerful puncher. His body shots wear down his opponents and I feel he’s ready to take his career to the next level.  I’ll be talking with my co-promoter, Ace Boxing’s Angelo DiCarlo, to see what we can do to get Brunker a title shot. He’s ready.”

Brunker, 27-0 with 15 knockouts, most recently won a unanimous decision over Mike Oliver on Aug. 17 in Atlantic City. Brunker trains in Las Vegas.

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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in town to discuss Sept. 28 fight at StubHub Center

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of Mexico and Brian Vera on Thursday will get together at a news conference in Los Angeles to talk about their upcoming super middleweight fight Sept. 28 at StubHub Center (on HBO).

The fight was originally slated for Sept. 7 at Staples Center, but Chavez sustained a cut on his right eyelid during sparring and the bout was postponed.

Chavez, a former middleweight champion, is 46-1-1 with 32 knockouts. Vera, of Austin, Texas, is 23-6 with 14 knockouts.

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Danny Garcia: This was not supposed to be his time, but he made it his time

Junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia of Philadelphia was recently asked why, in his mind, there are still those out there who don’t quite yet believe he’s an elite fighter.

His answer was different, yet probably right on the money.

“I really don’t know because I feel like I’m before my time; a lot of people still don’t understand it because I’m not supposed to be here right now,” said Garcia, who Sept. 14 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas will defend his two championship belts against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. “It wasn’t supposed to be my time right now. I made it my time. I took it and the people still don’t understand it, but I’m just going to keep building my legacy and proving myself.”

Garcia is right. He was flying under the radar, a victory over aging Erik Morales to win his first 140-pound belt in March 2012 notwithstanding. Morales was looked upon as past his prime, so while Garcia was given credit, no one was really singing his praises all that much afterward.

Then Garcia, 25, stopped fellow champion Amir Khan – in his prime – in the fourth round in July 2012. Too many, Garcia had arrived. Garcia knocked out Morales in the fourth round in a rematch in October. Garcia slugged it out for 12 rounds with Zab Judah and retained his two belts via unanimous decision in April in his most recent start.

Garcia (26-0, 16 KOs) also has victories over Kendal Holt in October 2011 and Nate Campbell in April 2011.

Garcia-Matthysse (34-2, 32 KOs) will be televised by Showtime pay-per-view on the undercard of the junior middleweight main event between Floyd Mayweather Jr. (44-0, 26 KOs) and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (42-0-1, 30 KOs) of Mexico.

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