Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com. *** Father and son will set foot into the same ring on the same fight night Friday in Tijuana, Mexico. Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez, 58, faces Jorge Arce, 41, for a third time in …
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Father and son will set foot into the same ring on the same fight night Friday in Tijuana, Mexico.
Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez, 58, faces Jorge Arce, 41, for a third time in a four-round exhibition while Junior takes on Mario Cazares in a sanctioned bout on DAZN.
Chavez Jr. (51-4-1, 33 KOs) last fought in December, when he lost to Daniel Jacobs after retiring on his stool after the fifth round. The younger Chavez is under an indefinite suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for refusing to take a drug test before the bout with Jacobs.
Chavez (51-4-1, 33 KOs) was able to fight in Arizona after getting a temporary injunction.
Cazares (11-0, 5 KOs) is best known as the last fighter to beat Canelo Alvarez in the amateur ranks back in 2004. The 30-year-old from Rosarito has faced low-quality opponents in his five-year career, with Chavez being the most notable name on his resume.
Chavez Sr. (107-6-2 with 85 KOs) was one of the best and most-popular fighters of all time. He was 89-0-1 before losing his first fight, to Frankie Randall in 1994. He fought a plethora of big-name opponents, including Pernell Whittaker, Meldrick Taylor (twice) and Oscar De La Hoya (twice) before retiring in 2005.
Arce (64-8-2, 49 KOs) also was a multiple-time world champion, capturing belts in four divisions. His most notable foes were Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. said that rival Canelo Alvarez is “extremely overrated” even though Alvarez beat him.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Back in May 2017, Canelo Alvarez fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at a soldout T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the former winning a lopsided affair in a 164-pound catchweight fight.
Even though he was soundly defeated, Chavez has been highly critical of Alvarez. He feels his countryman isn’t all that he’s cracked to be as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
“Canelo is a good fighter, but these days he is extremely overrated,” Chavez said to BoxingScene.com. “For me and for many, in his last 10 fights, he has had an advantage with weight. In the two fights with [Gennadiy] Golovkin, he went to a draw and lost (he actually beat Golovkin by a majority decision). The fight [against Miguel] Cotto could have been a draw, and they cheated me with the weight … by weighing me at 9 o’clock and then not being able to eat until 1 in the afternoon, something that has never been seen in history.
“Today, the best boxers in the world are Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. All of them are easily above Canelo.”
Chavez (51-4-1, 33 KOs) last fought in December, when he lost to Daniel Jacobs after he refused to come out of his corner for the sixth round. Currently, he’s under an indefinite suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for refusing to take a drug test before the bout with Jacobs. At the time, Chavez was able to get a temporary injunction to allow the fight to go on.
He returns to the ring on Sept. 25 against the undefeated Mario Cazares in Mexico.
Regardless of the circumstances, Chavez wants another crack at Alvarez because he feels cutting all the weight to make 164 pounds deprived him of his strength and energy.
“I would like a rematch at the [appropriate] weight,” Chavez said. “Yes, it was difficult to lose, especially when seeing everything that happened. I am completely sure that if I’m at 100 percent and better prepared, I could give a better fight.
“The first one was very boring, and what I’m saying was noticed [by those watching]. My focus at that time was not on boxing. I prepared myself, but not with the conviction of wanting to be the best in the world.”
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. said that rival Canelo Alvarez is “extremely overrated” even though Alvarez beat him.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Back in May 2017, Canelo Alvarez fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at a soldout T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the former winning a lopsided affair in a 164-pound catchweight fight.
Even though he was soundly defeated, Chavez has been highly critical of Alvarez. He feels his countryman isn’t all that he’s cracked to be as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
“Canelo is a good fighter, but these days he is extremely overrated,” Chavez said to BoxingScene.com. “For me and for many, in his last 10 fights, he has had an advantage with weight. In the two fights with [Gennadiy] Golovkin, he went to a draw and lost (he actually beat Golovkin by a majority decision). The fight [against Miguel] Cotto could have been a draw, and they cheated me with the weight … by weighing me at 9 o’clock and then not being able to eat until 1 in the afternoon, something that has never been seen in history.
“Today, the best boxers in the world are Vasiliy Lomachenko, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. All of them are easily above Canelo.”
Chavez (51-4-1, 33 KOs) last fought in December, when he lost to Daniel Jacobs after he refused to come out of his corner for the sixth round. Currently, he’s under an indefinite suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for refusing to take a drug test before the bout with Jacobs. At the time, Chavez was able to get a temporary injunction to allow the fight to go on.
He returns to the ring on Sept. 25 against the undefeated Mario Cazares in Mexico.
Regardless of the circumstances, Chavez wants another crack at Alvarez because he feels cutting all the weight to make 164 pounds deprived him of his strength and energy.
“I would like a rematch at the [appropriate] weight,” Chavez said. “Yes, it was difficult to lose, especially when seeing everything that happened. I am completely sure that if I’m at 100 percent and better prepared, I could give a better fight.
“The first one was very boring, and what I’m saying was noticed [by those watching]. My focus at that time was not on boxing. I prepared myself, but not with the conviction of wanting to be the best in the world.”
Julio Cesar Chavez reportedly will face Jorge Arce in an exhibition – his third with his countryman – on Sept. 25 in Tijuana, Mexico.
Julio Cesar Chavez is ahead of Mike Tyson when it comes to the senior circuit. And he’s at it again.
The Mexican Hall of Famer reportedly will face Jorge Arce in an exhibition – his third with his countryman – on Sept. 25 in Tijuana, Mexico. The event, which will take place behind closed doors, was announced on a World Boxing Council conference call, according to BoxingScene.com.
It will be available on superboletos.com. Proceeds will benefit those affected by the coronavirus in Tijuana and Culiacan, Chavez’s hometown, as well as those battling addiction.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Omar Chavez, the elder Chavez’s sons, will take part in the event. Chavez Jr. also will take part in an exhibition. Omar will fight in a sanctioned eight-round bout.
Chavez Sr. said on the call that Chavez Jr. is planning to take part in a sanctioned fight in October in Mexico. Junior is suspended in the U. S. for allegedly refusing to take a drug test late last year.
“If they want to resume their careers, this will serve them for when there is … an audience,” Chavez Sr. said about his sons. “Let’s see how Julio develops and how Omar looks. Julio plans to fight in October in Monterrey, but he is going to do the exhibition on September 25, and Omar will fight professionally over eight rounds.”
Chavez Sr. is 58. Arce, the popular former four-division titleholder from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, is 41.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been suspended indefinitely by Nevada and Arizona as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. might be out of the ring for a while.
Chavez has been suspended indefinitely by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission as a result of his alleged refusal to take a drug test before his fight against Daniel Jacobs in December.
The former middleweight titleholder was set to fight Jacobs in Las Vegas but, after failing to submit a sample, he was temporarily suspended in Nevada. Chavez was granted an injunction by a Nevada court, which lifted his suspension by the commission.
That allowed the fight to take place in Phoenix, where Jacobs stopped Chavez in five rounds.
However, now a judge in Nevada has sided with the NSAC. Thus, his suspension is back in place and he will have to explain his alleged actions. Chavez reportedly will be on the agenda for the commission’s Aug. 5 meeting.
“The judge reviewed the case, and he ruled in our favor,” Bob Bennett, the executive director of the NSAC, told ESPN. “He’s now on temporary suspension pending a suspension and an administrative hearing from our commission.”
Bennett went on: “Right now, what’s going to happen is the commission will take a look at his suspension, and then continue his suspension, and then set a date for the administrative hearing for refusing to take a performance-enhancing drug test with us.”
Chavez has tested positive for banned substances twice, once for a diuretic in 2009 and again for marijuana in 2012.
Daniel Jacobs, now competing as a super middleweight, has his eye on British titleholders Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders.
Daniel Jacobs is thinking big. Big fights, big legacy.
The former middleweight titleholder, now competing as a super middleweight, has his eye on British titleholders Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders. A victory over one of them would give Jacobs a world title in second division.
And it would a step toward realizing his ultimate goal.
“I want to be a Hall of Famer one day,” he said on the latest episode of Matchroom Boxing’s podcast “The Lockdown Tapes.” “And winning a belt in this weight division is what I need to do to achieve that.
“You are going to see the best version of Daniel Jacobs now, and I’m looking at the likes of Callum and Billy Joe, both of those fights make sense. Looking at my track record I have really fought some good guys in the last two years.
“I have been able to face the best in the division in my era and that’s what makes me most happy. It only makes sense for me coming into this division to fight the very best. I want to be able to prove that I am the best.”
Another potential opponent, one he might face before a title fight: Gabriel Rosado, the former 160-pound contender who has moved up to 168. He has been calling out Jacobs.
“As well as wanting the big fights, there is also the fights where you want to settle the debt, which is what I have always said about that little nag Gabe Rosado,” Jacobs said. “If we were to fight in New York or Philadelphia, then great. It’s onwards from there. He is just a hater who wants my position.”
Jacobs (36-3, 30 KOs) made his debut as a full-fledged super middleweight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in December, winning by TKO when Chavez quit after the fifth round because of what he said was a broken nose.
Of course, Jacobs is eager to build on that victory, but the coronavirus pandemic has brought the sporting world to a halt. He’s open to fighting without a live audience. However, for now, he, like everyone else, can only wait.
“I would like to fight this year, but we don’t know at this time,” Jacobs said. “We don’t know how long this process is going to take. Fighting behind closed doors would be a strange experience, but if I felt that the fans wanted to see me fight, then I would make that sacrifice for them. It would be cool.”
Eddie Hearn is willing to give Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. another chance on an undercard, but he will have to fight for a lot less money.
Eddie Hearn is willing to give Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. another chance on an undercard, but the Matchroom promoter says he will have to fight for a lot less money.
Undercard appearances and smaller purses are just part of a long, difficult challenge facing Chavez Jr., if he in fact tries to come back from a controversial TKO loss last Friday to Danny Jacobs.
The fight ended with a Phoenix crowd tossing debris in anger over Chavez’s decision not to continue after the fifth round.
“It’s gotten to a stage where the only thing he can do is come back on an undercard somewhere,’’ Hearn said on “The Last Round” podcast. “I would probably put him on, but he can’t get the money he’s been getting, and he has to come back at a lower level and try and get a good win.’’
After undergoing surgery for a broken nose and getting 10 stitches for a cut above an eye, Chavez Jr, said he intends to fight again. He even asked Jacobs for a rematch
Promoter Eddie Hearn would give Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. another chance but he’d have to fight on an undercard for less money. Melina Pizano / Matchroom Boxing USA
But Hearn said he needs a string of bouts to repair a reputation as fractured as that nose. It’ll be awhile before he’ll be back in a main event for big money. According to contracts filed with the Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission, Chavez Jr. was guaranteed $2 million for the Jacobs fight. An additional $1 million form Mexican media and advertisers was believed to be in his final paycheck.
However, he paid Jacobs $1 million when he knew he couldn’t make 168 pounds. That was the price to renegotiate the deal, making it a 173-pound fight instead of a super middleweight bout. Chavez, who was 172.7 at the weigh-in and looked to be at least 190 at opening bell, wound up with maybe $2 million.
Hearn said he would pay him $100,000 for a comeback bout on a Matchroom-promoted undercard. He also said Chavez Jr. should fight at light heavyweight (175-pound limit).
Hearn said he still likes Chavez Jr.’s potential. He also likes his drawing power, which is linked to his iconic father, Julio Cesar Chavez. The fight was uncertain four days before opening bell. That’s when a Nevada judge granted Chavez Jr. an injunction lifting his suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He was under suspension for allegedly refusing a drug test in early October. The day before the judge’s ruling, about 5,000 tickets had been sold. At opening bell, an estimated crowd of 12,000 was at Talking Stick Arena in downtown Phoenix.
“The numbers are great,’’ Hearn said.
But the question remains: Will Chavez Jr. accept smaller purses on any undercard?
“Do you want to fight for $100,000 in a 10-rounder at 7 (p.m.)?’’ Hearn said. “He may think he’s above that. ‘I’m Chavez Jr.’
“If he truly loves the sport, he might do it. If not, he won’t bother.’’
Hall of Famer Erik Morales was critical of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for quitting and his father for defending him.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been criticized in Mexico over his decision to quit after the fifth round because of a broken nose suffered against Danny Jacobs.
Erik Morales, one Mexico’s greats, ripped Chavez Jr. and his iconic father, Julio Cesar Chavez, who defended him in the wake of widespread outrage at the abrupt end to the fight Friday night at Talking Stick Arena on DAZN.
Angry fans at the arena booed and tossed debris at Chavez after the fight.
“When you are hurt or suffer a fracture you can fight,” Morales said Sunday on Twitter. “The decision not to fight should be respected, but the decision of those who paid to see a show must also be respected.
“You cannot disrespect the fans and journalists with loud words because they think differently. The fans should be respected.”
Within hours after fans in a crowd of about 12,000 threw cups full of beer, plastic water bottles and assorted other garbage at the ring, Chavez Sr. took to social media in defense of his son.
Chavez Jr. said his injures were the result of dirty tactics – head butts and elbows – although video clearly shows that a right hand from Jacobs broke his nose and cut him above the left eye.
“With all due respect to the fans of Phoenix, Arizona, right now I disagree with you, my son was making a competitive fight and was winning,” wrote Chavez, who appeared in a photo next to his son in a hospital bed. “Unfortunately, a head clash and an elbow comes and my son has a broken nose and will now undergo surgery.’’
His son had surgery for fractures in his nose and had 10 stitches for the cut above his eye.
Another notable fighter, Mikey Garcia, also criticized Chavez Jr., according to promoter Eddie Hearn. Garcia was seated at ringside next to Hearn and near Jessie Vargas. They were there to help promote their fight Feb. 29 in Frisco, Texas. The welterweight bout on DAZN was announced last week.
When Chavez Jr. said he would not continue, Hearn said Garcia turned to him and said:
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. had surgery for a broken nose and needed 10 stitches for a cut above his left eye following his loss to Danny Jacobs.
PHOENIX – Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. underwent surgery for a fractured nose and needed 10 stitches for a cut above his left eye following his controversial loss to Danny Jacobs on Friday night at Talking Stick Arena.
Chavez is expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks, according to members of his camp. He asked for a rematch with Jacobs.
However, any chance at an immediate rematch appeared unlikely after a bout that ended with angry fans tossing debris into the ring in outrage at Chavez’s abrupt decision not to continue after the fifth round.
Jacobs said he wants to move on in a quest to win a super middleweight title.
“I want to fight the biggest in the division,’’ he said. “… There’s Billy Joe Saunders and a lot of other champions.” One of them, Callum Smith, was at ringside Friday.
Jacobs (36-3, 30 KOS), a former middleweight champ, also said he wants a rematch with Gennadiy Golovkin, who beat him in a close decision at 160 pounds.
Chavez (51-4-1, 33 KOs), who was at 172.7 pounds at the weigh-in and appeared to be at least 190 at the opening bell, accused Jacobs of dirty tactics. He said he was injured by headbutts and elbows from Jacobs. However, video shows that Jacobs cut Chavez above the eye with a right hand. Another right hand in the fight appears to break Chavez’s nose.
Chavez’s corner informed the referee Wes Melton and ringside physician Dr. Robin MacDougall that he couldn’t continue because he couldn’t breathe. Apparently, his breathing was restricted by blood from the fractures in the nose. However, MacDougall said he was never got to examine Chavez, who was taken to a Phoenix hospital after the bout.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s antics before, during and after his fight with Daniel Jacobs on Friday left fans exasperated with his act.
PHOENIX – First, it was an injured hand. Then, it was a broken nose. So, what was it? Then, he blamed headbutts and elbows. He blamed the referee.
Then, Julio Chavez Jr. apologized to the fans, but not for his own performance, or the litany of confusing excuses, or anything else throughout a chaotic week that ended in unforgiving fans outraged at his decision not to continue after the fifth round.
They erupted, throwing cups of beer, cans, bottles and chairs. The debris was their answer to Chavez Jr.’s apology. They’re not buying it, not any of it. It was an ugly response. There were no winners at Talking Stick Arena, other than a classy Danny Jacobs, who rose above the outrage and the debris.
If anybody is owed an apology, it’s Gabe Rosado, who was on the card as a potential substitute for Chavez Jr. Not long after Chavez Jr. played the blame game in an interview with DAZN and not long after the last bit of garbage had been swept from a floor still slick and sticky from stale beer, Rosado was in the ring, fighting Humberto Ochoa. Rosado won a decision. But who knew?
The arena was empty, cleared by security nervous about a full-blown riot. The mob was gone. In a back room, promoter Eddie Hearn and Jacobs talked to the remaining reporters who had come out from underneath their work tables near ringside.
Trainer Freddie Roach (left) said Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. had surgery on his broken nose. Melina Pizano / Matchroom Boxing USA
Chavez Jr. was long gone. Trainer Freddie Roach later said his fighter was in a Phoenix hospital, undergoing surgery for a fractured nose. Nothing about the hand. Then, a photo was posted on social media of Julio Chavez Sr., the iconic dad at his son’s bedside. It was posted as way to confirm that he was in fact hurt.
But questions continue to swirl, mostly because more than a nose got broken Friday night. Chavez Jr.’s credibility is broken beyond repair.
Chavez Jr. tried to explain away the defeat, saying Jacobs got away with dirty tactics.
“I was getting close, but got headbutted above the left eye,’’ Chavez said to DAZN. “Then, I had problems because of all the blood. I came over to the corner and couldn’t breathe. He elbowed me, and headbutted me. Very tough fight. I felt I couldn’t go, cause I couldn’t breathe properly. The ref wasn’t calling anything.”
But it was clear what had happened. A crisp right hand, Hearn would say later, from Jacobs and blood immediately began to drip from Chavez’s nose. It was there, on video that played and re-played. Then, there was the eye. Chavez had been complaining to Jacobs. Jacobs listened and then looked up at video after the fight and saw that his right hand landed, cutting Chavez Jr. above the eye late in the fourth.
Still, Chavez Jr. looked for excuses. They worked before. They had worked all week. On Tuesday, Chavez Jr, got an injunction from a Nevada judge, allowing him to keep a pending Arizona license he needed for the fight. Then, he missed weight at 172.7 pounds. He was nearly five over the contracted 168, which was more than enough to know he never intended to make weight. No problem, he bought his way back into the fight by re-negotiating the deal. The bout would be at 173 pounds instead of 168. It cost him $1 million. But it looked like it was an investment that would allow him to get even bigger by opening bell.
Jacobs (left) said Chavez was so big he felt like Roy Jones Jr. against heavyweight John Ruiz. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing USA
He was huge.
“I felt like Roy Jones Jr against John Ruiz,’’ Jacobs said, recalling Jones’ victory for a heavyweight title in March 2003.
From weight to money, Chavez Jr. had all the advantages. But he had run out of cheap excuses. Fans, who had heard them for years, heard them again all over again. Deja-boo. By fight time, their deep well of patience for Chavez was exhausted. Instead, there was an edgy sense of betrayal
For years, Chavez Jr. could do no wrong. For years, there was faith that he would eventually fulfill a destiny that is apparently tied to his name.
For the fans, it was an expectation. For Chavez Jr., it was an entitlement. Now, however, there is only exasperation, which was expressed badly. The fans should apologize, too. But it’s a violent game in the ring and often in the crowd. You’ll hear no apology from them, mostly because they’ve had it. Faith in Chavez also got broken beyond repair Friday night. It was a violent goodbye from the fans who won’t forgive, forget or be back.
“I’d love to have a rematch,’’ Chavez Jr. told DAZN.
Little late for that. Any chance of a rematch with those fans is gone. That’s really what was in all of that debris Friday night.
