By Dan Ambrose: Former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Daniel Jacobs could be facing each other next on December 14 on DAZN in the U.S. Chavez Jr. (51-3-1, 33 KOs) says Jacobs is his “Plan A” for his next fight in December, and he’s already training. This fight has the potential to be a real disaster if Chavez Jr. underwhelms like he did in his losses to Saul Canelo Alvarez and Sergio Martinez. Jacobs could make himself look bad if he takes the fight with Chavez, and it turns out to terrible mismatch.
Chavez Jr. vs. Jacobs at likely catchweight
The Chavez Jr. vs. Jacobs fight would take place in the United States at a weight between 168 and 170. Jacobs (35-3, 29 KOs) recently revealed that he was moving up to the 168-lb weight class following his close 12 round unanimous decision loss to Saul Canelo Alvarez on December 4.
Chavez Jr. has had a difficult time in the past making the 168 pound weight limit for his fights. For Chavez’s recent comeback fight last August, he weighed in at 175 pounds. He looked strong at that weight, but obviously that’s not a division he can fight in. Those guys are too big, and too powerful for Chavez.
At 32, former IBF middleweight champion Jacobs has outgrown the division, and it’s become difficult for him to make weight. Nevertheless, Jacobs can still move back down to 160 for big fights against Gennady Golovkin, Canelo, Jaime Munguia or Ryota Murata. Those would all be tempting options for Jacobs if offered to him.
Looking forward to announcing my next fight, I’m so ready to get back in the Ring! 🥊🔥 #MiracleMan #LoveMyFans pic.twitter.com/L5Fzoed1Sh
— Daniel Jacobs (@DanielJacobsTKO) August 27, 2019
Chavez Jr. wants world title on line for Jacobs fight
“I am training, and I have been doing it since last fight in August,” said Chavez Jr. said to ESPN Deportes. Plan A, I already know it is the fight with Jacobs, but there are details that we are discussing. They tell me of a minor title at 168 pounds, but I would love to go for a worldwide recognized title. If we are going to make that effort it would be good to do it for a good prize, and I don’t mean the economic thing,” said Chavez Jr.
There aren’t any vacant super middleweight titles available for the Chavez Jr. vs. Jacobs fight. If Chavez Jr. is fine with fighting Jacobs for a minor title, then that’s an easy thing to do. One of the sanctioning bodies would likely have no issues with having a minor strap on the line for a fight between Chavez Jr. and Jacobs.
Chavez Jr. returned from a two-year layoff last month in stopping journeyman Evert Bravo (25-11-1, 19 KOs) in the 1st round on August 10 in Mexico. The punching power was still there for Chavez, and he looked in excellent condition. In terms of performance and physical conditioning, this was the beat Chavez Jr. has looked since his win over John Duddy in 2010.