Austin’s Jesus Chavez has pulled out of his March 25 IBF lightweight title defense with Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas because of partial tears in his left rotator cuff and his left biceps.
Both injuries will require surgery, said Chavez’s manager, Lou Mesorano.
The 33-year-old Chavez said his left shoulder was hurting him during training, so he got an MRI examination Feb. 17. He found out about the damage Wednesday.
“It’s not right for me to walk into a fight hurt and not live up to my end of the deal by coming in less than 100 percent,” Chavez said today. “I will have the surgeries and come back strong.”
Chavez said he will continue to work on his conditioning. He was in prime condition for the Barrera bout, having run the Freescale Half Marathon on Sunday.
Golden Boy Promotions has not made any official announcement regarding a rescheduled date, but Mesorano said he hopes to have Chavez back in the ring by the end of the year, perhaps even a title defense bout held in Austin.
