The last time we saw Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. plying his craft under the bright lights of Las Vegas, it wasn’t a pretty sight. Facing off with unheralded Troy Rowland in November of 2009, Chavez Jr. edged out an uninspiring unanimous decision over ten rounds that had the partisans inside of the MGM Grand nearly asleep. Luckily Manny Pacquiao would save the night with his thorough destruction of Miguel Cotto hours later but it was obvious that Chavez still needed a lot of work.
Things have definitely changed since then but the suspicions regarding his career still linger.
In April of last year Chavez made headlines by hooking up with world renown trainer Freddie Roach and weeks later began putting in work at the trainer’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. It was an interesting pairing to say the least and the duo’s first result was a resounding success as the Sinaloa, Mexico fighter scored a riveting victory in pounding Ireland’s John Duddy over twelve fast-paced rounds inside of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
News flash: Miguel Cotto hits Las Vegas for Mayorga fight
That June showcase was an encouraging sign of Chavez’s potential but the following eight months have left much to be desired. Chavez was instantly rumored for a clash with WBA junior middleweight king Miguel Cotto before eventually setting his sights on Alfonso Gomez for a December 4th date in Anaheim that never materialized because of a flu infection that floored the 24-year old hopeful.
He would eventually return in late January, winning an unconvincing ten-round nod over well-traveled Billy Lyell in his hometown. The fight wasn’t thrilling like the Duddy scrap and Chavez probably took a few more flush shots than Roach would have preferred. And while the detractors definitely came to the surface yet again after that performance, one thing the victory did do was clear the way for a shot at WBC middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik.
The German belt holder is far from intimidating as far as champions go and Chavez definitely has a chance in this one. The fight can’t come soon enough for Chavez’s supporters and critics alike but there has been constant confusion as to the exact date and venue of the fight and whether or not Chavez would take a tune-up bout beforehand.
It was always thought that Chavez would be gunning for his first world title in his native Mexico and and tune up bout against David Medina was pegged for March 19th as well. But just as is the sport of boxing, things have now changed as our friends at BoxingScene.com have reported that Chavez’s tune up bout may be on the shelf while the Zbik clash could be heading to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the same place where Chavez under whelmed against Rowland.
Interesting developments to say the least but ones that could be beneficial to many parties involved. Fighting in Las Vegas would give Chavez to show how much he has grown since that November night and with both HBO and Showtime said to be interested in the bout, much exposure will be heading Chavez’s way.
Las Vegas has returned to the forefront in 2011, as the city is coming off of two electric knockout performances by Nonito Donaire and Brandon Rios within a weeks’ time of one another, and there are several other meaningful showdowns lined up for Nevada. Chavez very well could find himself in the mix and I personally would love to see it.
