By Gerardo Granados: Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has struggled to make 160 pounds limit in the past and after his long suspension it has been reported that he would face either Martin Murray at 160 or Brian Vera at 165 pounds depending on the weight he is able to shred off.
It’s clear that he drops more than just 20 pounds to make the middleweight limit so why not move up to 168?
Chavez Jr. is highly criticized but certainly he is a charismatic fighter who draws the attention of boxing fans. Even Andre Ward has showed interest to fight him, why? Not just that he has the ideal style to defeat him but because a win against Chavez Jr. might allow him to drive attention to himself. Sergio Martinez was received in Argentina like a hero after defeating Chavez Jr. it was like if Maravilla had defeated a big boxing star instead of him being the star.
It could be good for Chavez Jr. to move up only eight pounds, at fight night he could still rehydrate up to +185 pounds but his body would not suffer as much as it has been for making the middle limit. He would be stronger and his power would increase helping him due his brawler boxing style.
The WBC vacated the super middleweight title and it could be possible for Julio Cesar to get a shot at it. There is no need to say that on times the WBC favors Mexican fighters when a good fight can be arranged. But who´s to fight at the super middleweight division?
If he faced WBA champion Andre Ward and lost it would not be so bad because he would be the clear underdog; but to have the courage to fight him would give Chavez Jr. a boost with his fans, no need to say what could hapen if he wins the fight. The IBF champion Carl Froch, former champion Mikkel Kessler, WBO champion Robert Stieglitz, former champion Lucian Bute, former champion Arthur Abraham are just a few names that could be interested to fight Julio Cesar. At middleweight there´s Gennady Golovkin but besides him there are not many names left.
Maybe its time for his manager to advise him to move up. Maybe his father should advise him to stop hurting his body. Maybe his promoter could convince him due monatary reasons. But will he accept to move up?
Comments are closed.