This most important fight on the horizon involving Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is one that he’s not actually fighting. It’s the fight for control of his future, and the combatants are long-time Chavez-promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank, and Al Haymon, who’s generally causing havoc all across the boxing landscape, acquiring power, fighters and contracts seemingly by the day.
Haymon and Arum (like Floyd Mayweather and Arum, as well as Richard Schaefer and Arum) don’t play very nicely together. Namely, they don’t do business together at all.
That becomes increasingly complex as Chavez revealed several days ago that he signed with Haymon, and that his next fight, scheduled for early 2015, was being worked out under his direction. Signing with Haymon essentially means JCC Jr. has every intention of saying adios to Top Rank.
Top Rank immediately called up the legal team and said not so fast Junior. They say they have the right to promote at least one further Chavez fight, and that right continues through to April 2016.
What it all amounts to is that we can expect to see Chavez Jr. further relegated to the sidelines. Since losing to Sergio Martinez in September 2012, Chavez has fought just twice, both against Bryan Vera. He performed terribly the first time and deserved to lose, and then came back to earn a more legitimate victory.
Chavez’s inactivity is due to failed drug tests and suspensions, along with perhaps a general malaise towards training. Notably absent in that list of recent fights of course was the proposed battle against Gennady Golovkin which never materialized.
Legal problems and promotional issues are only going to further stall his career. We’ll keep you posted with any updates regarding Chavez and the Haymon-Arum entanglement.
