By Dan Ambrose: WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (43-0-1, 30 KO’s) is reportedly looking at fighting a tune-up bout on September 24th against a still to be determined opponent in Mexico. This will likely be an easy tune-up fight for the 25-year-old Chavez Jr. to get him ready for his November 19th fight against contender Peter Manfredo Jr. (37-6, 20 Ko’s).

It seems silly that Chavez Jr. would need a tune-up just to face Manfedo Jr. but then again Chavez Jr. looked awful in beating World Boxing Council middleweight paper champion Sebastian Zbik last month on June 4th, so a tune-up might not be a bad idea. In fact, Chavez Jr. would really help himself if he were to fight a series of tune-ups, but unfortunately that’s possible.

Now that he’s a champion, Chavez Jr. can’t duck the top contenders for any length of time without getting stripped of his title. The WBC has already said that former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez will be given a shot against Chavez Jr. next year, but few people see that ever happening. I certainly don’t. I can see Chavez Jr. vacating the title if the WBC pushes the matter and insists on Chavez Jr. fighting Martinez. But most likely will see Chavez Jr. matched against fellow Top Rank fighter Miguel Cotto next year, so none of this will really matter. Cotto will beat Chavez Jr. with ease and then vacate the title rather than fighting Martinez.

Chavez Jr. brings in big ratings when he fights, but he’s flawed and beatable. It’s only matter of time before he loses his unbeaten record. He’ll do okay as long as he’s carefully matched but if he has to face a top middleweight contender like Martinez or Marco Antonio Rubio, Chavez Jr. will have major problems.