AN opportunity to fight emerging Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. is in store for Filipino Rev Santillan should he win his next fight Saturday evening in Japan.
Several sources contacted by sportsnews.ph revealed that fight promoter Bob Arum wants a Filipino challenger to face Chavez in another big boxing card to be held in Mexico on April 26.
?They are seriously considering Santillan as an opponent and the Filipino camp just want to know how much the offer will be. Of course they also need to hurdle their next fight,? said the source who requested anonymity.
The 30-year-old Santillan (24-3-1, 17 KO?s) will defend his Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight crown against Japanese Motoki Sasaki Saturday evening at the Korakuen Hall in Japan.
Another source said Arum is planning to do a Mexico vs. Philippines battle for his April 26 card with at least one world title fight as part of the promotion. Arum wants WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel to defend his crown in a rematch with Z Gorres.
The charismatic 21-year-old Chavez, Jr. meanwhile is coming off a scintillating 8th round TKO win over American Jose Celaya last weekend that topbilled the successful ?Latin Fury? card held at the Dome De La Feria in Guanajato, Mexico.
Chavez, Jr., with a record of 35-0-1, 28 by knockout, won the vacant WBC Continental Americas light middleweight crown in disposing off Celaya.
The southpaw Santillan is on his fourth reign as OPBF welterweight champion. He won his first OPBF crown January of 2001 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu where he decisioned Korean Suk-Hyun Yun.
Chavez, Jr. will reportedly stake his WBC 154-lb regional belt for the April 26 showdown.
