By Chris Williams: According to rumor-mill, trainer Freddie Roach is no longer working with WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. There’s still nothing official out on this yet, but it does seem rather telling that Roach is now back at his Wildcard gym in Los Angeles, in California training Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan for their upcoming fights.

While this is going on in Los Angeles, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is reportedly being trained by his father Julio Cesar Chavez. So what’s the deal with Roach and Chavez Jr? Is Roach officially out as Chavez Jr’s trainer?

Ring Magazine said this on their twitter about the Roach-Chavez Jr. situation: “Lem: Arum and Roach confirmed that Roach will be with Chavez, but [Alex] Ariza will not #boxing.”

So that means Ariza’s being given the boot? If that’s the case then why isn’t Chavez Jr. working out with Roach? There’s only a month to go before Chavez Jr’s fight with Andy Lee, and Ariza already flew over from the Philippines to get Chavez Jr. in shape. I don’t know if I buy what Arum and Roach are saying about Chavez Jr. still being with him.

It’s still unclear at this time, but it sure doesn’t look good that Roach isn’t training Chavez Jr. right now given that Chavez Jr. is finally stepping it up after nine years as a pro to fight his first quality opponent in Andy Lee in a toss-up fight next month on June 16th. If Chavez Jr. were ever to need a trainer like Roach this would be the time. Chavez Jr. really has his hands full against the powerful southpaw Lee, and if he doesn’t figure out a good strategy to fight him, we may see Chavez Jr. tasting defeat for the first time in his career unless he’s given a gift decision.

The fight is taking place in Texas, and that could help Chavez Jr. immensely if the fight is even slightly close. Lee might have to really dominate Chavez Jr. to make sure he gets a win, but hopefully the judges get it right if it goes to the cards because we’ve already seen Chavez Jr. win several questionable decisions during his career against Carlos Molina and Matt Vanda.