Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Bryan Vera II reportedly in the works for December in Texas

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Robert Morales

One thing about promoter Bob Arum, he knows how to strike while the iron is hot. On Saturday, his fighter – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. – was scored the winner of a 10-round light heavyweight fight against Bryan Vera at StubHub Center. The unanimous decision from judges Carla Caiz (96-94), Marty Denkin (97-93) and Gwen Adair (98-92) drew the wrath of the fans, and really ticked off Vera and his promoter, Artie Pelullo, who afterward practically scowled while voicing his displeasure to reporters on press row.

According to reports, a rematch is already in the works for sometime in December, probably in Texas. A story on BoxingScene.com says that talks between Arum and Pelullo will continue. Saturday’s fight was televised on HBO.

Vera is from Austin, Texas and Chavez has a huge fan base in the state. Considering Saturday’s decision has drawn such outcry, this is the type of rematch that could do very well there. Just more than 5,000 attended Saturday’s fight in Carson, but by then a lot of fans might have been turned off by Chavez and his much-publicized weight issues.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. weighs in at 172.4 pounds, makes new weight limit for Vera

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Robert Morales

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. weighed in at 172.4 pounds Friday, just under the 173-pound limit to which he agreed to fight Bryan Vera on Saturday at StubHub Center in Carson (on HBO).

Chavez, a former middleweight champion, told his promoter (Bob Arum) this week he was not going to be able to make the 168-pound super middleweight limit – the agreed upon weight that originally was 163 and then 165.

Arum and Vera’s promoter, Artie Pelullo, came up with the new 173-pouind limit Wednesday.

Vera, 31, of Austin, Texas, weighed 171.2 pounds. He is 23-6 with 14 knockouts. Chavez, 27, of Mexico, is 46-1-1 with 32 knockouts.

Chavez-Vera fight Saturday at StubHub Center will be contested at 173 pounds

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Robert Morales

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Bryan Vera were originally supposed to fight at a catch-weight of 163 pounds Saturday at StubHub Center. Then it was moved to 165, then to 168 and now to 173 as Chavez has had difficulty holding up his end of the weight bargain.

Bob Arum, who promotes former middleweight champion Chavez, on Tuesday told reporters he would sit down with Vera’s promoter, Artie Pelullo, to discuss a new weight above 168. At Wednesday’s final news conference, Arum said we would all have to “Wait for the weight,” at Friday’s weigh-in.

However, late Wednesday night, Ronnie Shields – Vera’s trainer – told BoxingScene.com that a new agreement for 173 pounds was reached, and that Vera would be financially compensated for basically putting up with what has turned out to be a ridiculous scenario, even by boxing’s standards. The bout – which will be televised by HBO – also has been reduced from 12 rounds to 10.

Chavez (46-1-1, 32 KOs), still just 27, had trouble making the middleweight limit of 160, and now he can’t even make 168.

According to Shields, the 31-year-old Vera (23-6, 14 KOs), of Austin, Texas, weighed 167 on Wednesday, one under the limit at which he thought he was going to fight Chavez.

Bob Arum: Chavez did nothing wrong by smoking pot weeks before Martinez fight

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Robert Morales

Longtime promoter Bob Arum, 81, has made no bones about being an advocate for marijuana. He was in rare form Tuesday when he played host to a conference call for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who Saturday will take on Bryan Vera in the super middleweight main event at StubHub Center in Carson (on HBO).

Chavez tested positive for marijuana after his middleweight title fight against Sergio Martinez (who defeated Chavez) on Sept. 15, 2012, at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Chavez was initially fined $900,000 and suspended nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which later reduced the fine to $100,000.

During the conference call, a reporter asked Chavez to talk about the marijuana consumption. After Chavez said things like, “Everyone makes mistakes,” and, “We are all human,” Arum chimed in, and strongly.

“I want to go on record as saying there is nothing wrong with smoking pot,” Arum said. “Any suspension for an athlete having smoked marijuana other than when he was actually performing in the ring, is unconscionable. Even WADA has said the same thing.

“Let’s be real about it. There is nothing wrong with pot and pot can actually be beneficial. … I don’t think he did anything wrong by smoking pot weeks before the fight.”

WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, recently raised the levels of marijuana an athlete would have to have in his/her system before being in violation. The new levels needed for a dirty test were raised from 15 nanograms per milliliter to 150. That means an athlete would have to smoke pot not long before an event in order to get nabbed.

In a story published in July on a website named Medical Daily, Allen St. Pierre – executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws – said that with the new standard, an athlete would have to be a “pretty dedicated cannabis consumer.” Basically, what WADA is saying, out of competition use of marijuana is no longer a concern.

Remaining tickets for Saturday’s card are priced at $20, $50, $100 and $200. They can be purchased online at www.axs.com or by calling 888-604-8777

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

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Robert Morales

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.

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

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Robert Morales

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.

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

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Robert Morales

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.

Tickets for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Brian Vera at StubHub on sale Thursday

Posted on August 20, 2013 by Robert Morales

Tickets for the Sept. 28 super middleweight fight between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Brian Vera at StubHub Center in Carson (on HBO) go on sale Thursday at 10 a.m.

The bout was originally scheduled for Sept. 7 at Staples Center, but Chavez sustained a cut over his right eye during sparring, so promoter Bob Arum was forced to come up with a new date and site.

Tickets are priced at $20, $50, $100 and $200. They can be purchased online at www.axs.com or by calling 888-929-7849.

Chavez is 46-1-1 with 32 knockouts. Vera is 23-6 with 14 knockouts.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Brian Vera now slated for Sept. 28 at StubHub Center

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Robert Morales

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s super middleweight bout against Brian Vera originally scheduled for Sept. 7 at Staples Center will now be contested Sept. 28 at StubHub Center in Carson (on HBO).

The bout was recently postponed because Chavez sustained a small cut on his right eyelid during sparring.

Chavez, of Mexco, is 46-1-1 with 32 knockouts. Vera, of Austin, Texas, is 23-6 with 14 knockouts.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. sustains cut, his fight with Brian Vera is postponed

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Robert Morales

Several publications are reporting that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Sunday sustained a cut over one of his eyes during sparring and that his super middleweight fight against Brian Vera scheduled for Sept. 7 at Staples Center has been postponed. A new date has not been announced for the Top Rank Inc. event.

HBO was to televise Chavez-Vera.

Chavez last fought in September in Las Vegas, losing his middleweight title to Sergio Martinez at Thomas & Mack Center. A post-fight drug test had Chavez testing positive for marijuana. The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended Chavez nine months and fined him $900,000; the fine was later reduced to $100,000.

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