By Dan Ambrose: If you look at the condition that unbeaten middleweight contender Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) was in for his last fight this past weekend against journeyman Billy Lyells (22-9, 4 KO’s), it’s hard to miss the fact that Chavez Jr. looked kind of flabby and out of shape compared to his form a year ago in his impressive win over John Duddy in June 2010. Chavez Jr., the WBC Silver middleweight champion, reportedly came in four pounds over the 160 pound weight limit for his fight against the smallish Lyell.

The weight seemed to really slow Chavez Jr. to the point where his shots lacked the power that they normally have. He seemed incredibly weak in the fight and struggled to win by a 10 round decision. You have to wonder how much weight that Chavez Jr. took off just to get near the 160 pound limit for the fight because after Chavez rehydraded, he looked like a big light heavyweight in there with Lyell. Chavez looked positively huge and his face, which is normally slender and lean, had a swollen appearance as he entered the ring.

He looked almost bloated compared to how he looked a year ago against Duddy. You have to wonder what happened or failed to happen during training camp. Did Roach not get to train Chavez enough? Roach’s conditioning trainer Alex Ariza is usually excellent and whipping his fighters into tip top shape. He did a remarkable job with Chavez last year to get him ready for the Duddy fight. It would be interesting to know what happened with this training camp because Chavez Jr. looked like he needed about a month more of training judging by the fat on his body.

Chavez Jr. will now be facing WBC middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik in May in a title challenge. If Chavez comes into that fight like he did this past one, I can’t see him winning.