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By Dan Ambrose:  Former world champions Daniel Jacobs and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. could be mixing it up later this year in November, according to Dan Rafael. Chavez Jr. (50-3-1, 32 KOs) and Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs) have started discussions for a fight. Both guys are coming off 12 round decision losses to Saul Canelo Alvarez, and they need a victory right now to turn things around for them.

Jacobs, 32, is moving up to super middleweight now, because it’s become too difficult to make weight. Chavez Jr. would be an excellent opponent for Jacobs’ first fight in the 168 pound division.

Chavez Jr. fight this Saturday against Evert Bravo

Former WBC middleweight title holder Chavez Jr. will be fighting the 34-year-old Colombian Evert Bravo (25-10-1, 19 KOs) this weekend at the Salon Diamante Premier, in San Juan de los Lagos, Nevada.  Chavez has been out of boxing for the last 27 months since losing to Canelo in May 2017.  It’s a surprise that Chavez stayed out of the ring for this long, because he’s had several chances to return to the ring since then.

Most recently there was talk of Chavez Jr. fighting Alfredo Angulo, but nothing came of that fight. If Chavez beats Bravo, then a fight against Jacobs is a real possibility. However, given Chavez’s recent track record for fights that have failed to take place, it’s far from a sure thing he faces Jacobs next.

Chavez badly needs a win against Bravo

At this point in Chavez’s career, this might be as good as it gets for him. Jacobs is an excellent name for Chavez Jr. to fight, and if he gets lucky and beats him, his career will be rejuvenated overnight. Chavez can forget about ever fighting Canelo again. That ship has sailed. With Chavez’s horrible performance against Canelo, there’s no expectations that he’ll get a second fight. Chavez was saddling up to the last chance saloon this Saturday night against Bravo. Although it’s expected that Chavez will win, you can never be too sure. The way Chavez looked against Canelo, he would have lost to almost any second tier fighter.

Jacobs coming off loss to Canelo

The New Yorker Jacobs lost his last fight to Canelo by a 12 round unanimous decision last May. It was a unification fight with Jacobs coming into the clash as the IBF middleweight champion against WBA/WBC champ Canelo. Despite a slow star, Jacobs came on strong in the second half of the fight, and almost pulled it out against Alvarez. The scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113. The struggle that Jacobs went through to make the 160 pound limit was ultimately too much for him.

Jacobs’ punching power and boxing skills will present problems for Chavez. It would be better for both if the weight limit for the fight is at 175 rather than 168. Chavez Jr. struggles too much to make 168, and it would be bad if he comes the fight weight drained.