By Dan Ambrose: Unbeaten World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (43-0-1, 30 KO’s) is looking to defend his newly captured WBC strap twice in 2011, first on September 24th against a likely Peter Manfredo Jr. and then on November 19th, possibly against his mandatory challenger.

Two names – Nobihiro Ishida and Ronald Hearns – recently came up for Chavez’s next fight on September 24th. Hearns was knocked out in a failed title challenge by WBA Super World middleweight champion Felix Sturm in February. It would seem a little odd if Hearns were to be picked out by Chavez Jr. coming off of a knockout loss to Sturm.

I mean I wouldn’t surprised if Chavez Jr. took Hearns as an opponent but you have to really question a move like that. A lot of boxing fans see Chavez Jr. as a paper champion, a fighter that fought mostly B level fighters his entire career until fighting for a title against Sebastian Zbik, who was given the WBC title by the World Boxing Council rather than winning it in the ring after the sanctioning body stripped previous champion Sergio Martinez of the title for failing to fight his mandatory challenger.

However, Chavez Jr. certainly could do better than to take on Hearns with him coming off of a knockout loss. As for as Ishida goes, he seems like a little better opponent than Hearns because he at least didn’t lose his last fight. However, he did lose his fight just before that to Rigberto Alvarez and he’s ranked number #13 by the WBC. I’d much prefer to see Chavez Jr. facing higher ranked opponents than this.