By Dan Ambrose: Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KO’s) is hoping to get a suspension of six months or less and a fine of no more than $10,000 for testing positive for marijuana last September before his 12 round decision loss to Sergio Martinez, according to RingTV.
Chavez Jr’s attorneys are making the request to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on Chavez Jr’s behalf. Chavez Jr. could be facing a suspension as long as one year and a fine of his entire $3 million purse for the Martinez fight if the NSAC decides to give him the maximum penalty for the positive test. However, the odds of that happening are slim given that marijuana isn’t a performance enhancing drug.
Chavez Jr. did test positive for a diuretic for his fight with Troy Rowland in 2009. Chavez Jr. also was busted on a driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) earlier in 2012.
Bob Arum, Chavez Jr’s promoter, would like to get Chavez Jr. back in the ring by June of this year to fight a tune-up to get ready for his rematch against Sergio Martinez on September 14th. Whether Chavez Jr. is able to fight a tune-up in June will depend on the ruling by the NSAC when they meet to decide Chavez Jr’s case next month.
Since Chavez Jr’s suspension will effectively start in September following his fight with Martinez, he could be done with his suspension by March if he’s only given a six month suspension by the NSAC. If Chavez Jr. receives a 9 month suspension than it would wipe any chance of him fighting in June, as that would when the suspension would be completed.
Under the best of circumstances, Chavez Jr. will be able to fight at least twice in 2013. He’d like to get his WBC title back this year. However, a second loss to Martinez would mean that Chavez Jr. would likely have to go in another direction towards one of the other middleweight champions to try and capture another belt.
What’s unclear is how much longer Chavez Jr. can make weight in the middleweight division. He’ll be turning 27 on February 16th, and he’s had to take off dramatic amounts of weight through dehydration to make the middleweight division. It’s likely to get more difficult for him to make the 160 pound limit as times goes by. Chavez Jr. might need to either move to 168 or 175 soon.
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