Canelo vs. JCC Jr. 164.5 lbs. OFFICIAL for May 6

Dog Jones · Jan 16, 2017

Dan Rafael
‏@danrafaelespn

ICYMI: Canelo, Chavez Jr. set to fight at 164.5 lbs. My story on the Mexican megafight: http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/18468627/canelo-alvarez-julio-cesar-chavez-jr-agree-bout-6 … #CaneloChavez #boxing

In what might be the biggest all-Mexican fight in boxing history, Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., easily their country's most popular active boxers, will square off in a long-anticipated match on May 6, Golden Boy Promotions announced Friday.

"I'm excited to announce my fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and confirm that I will be prepared, like I've been throughout my career, to give a great fight," Alvarez said. "I want to remind you that when two Mexican fighters face off, a spectacular show is guaranteed."

Said Chavez: "I dedicate this fight to Mexico. I'm going to win, but my country will too because this is the fight that boxing needs."
Canelo Alvarez will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6. The two fighters will meet at a catch weight of 164.5 pounds. Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports

The scheduled 12-round bout, which will headline an HBO PPV card on the Mexican holiday weekend of Cinco de Mayo -- a traditional weekend for major Mexican fights -- will take place at a site to be determined.

The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, however, is a likely site, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted the date for that arena to Golden Boy at its monthly meeting on Friday.

However, Golden Boy president Eric Gomez said the promotion will talk to other venues as well, including AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. Alvarez drew an AT&T Stadium-record boxing crowd of 51,240 for his last fight, in September, when he knocked out Liam Smith in the ninth round to win a junior middleweight world title.

"Boxing has been searching for a fight to draw the casual fan back to our sport, and Canelo vs. Chavez Jr. is just that fight," Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya said. "Canelo, the biggest star boxing, will take on not only a former world champion in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., but the son of the biggest star in the history of boxing in Mexico. Add in 98 victories and 66 knockouts between these two superstars along with a Cinco de Mayo fight date, and you have a can't-miss battle."

Alvarez, the former middleweight world champion, and Chavez, who also once held a world title at 160 pounds, will meet at a catchweight of 164.5 pounds.

Agreeing on the weight was one of the major sticking points during a drawn-out negotiation that began in November.

"There wasn't one hump; there were many humps and we finally got over them," Gomez said on a teleconference with boxing reporters to discuss the fight.

Alvarez, who called off a Dec. 10 date after suffering an avulsion fracture in his right thumb against Smith, has never boxed at more than 155 pounds, the weight at which he insisted opponents fight at when he held the middleweight title. Chavez has been 167.5 or heavier for his past five fights dating to 2013 and has had a well-documented history of tremendous struggles even getting that light.

The 30-year-old Chavez (50-2-1, 32 KOs), one of the fighting sons of Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., has failed to make weight for several fights, had issues outside the ring and went just 3-2 in a five-fight stretch from 2012 to 2015.

But after 17 months out of the ring, he returned on Dec. 10. He made weight (167.9 pounds) and looked good in a one-sided 10-round decision against fringe contender Dominik Britsch, setting the stage for the showdown with Alvarez.

Concerned about Chavez making weight, Gomez said, "There are provisions in the contract if he doesn't make weight. There are big penalties."

Gomez declined to give the specifics, but according to sources involved in the fight, missing weight would cost the guilty party $1 million per pound.

There is no love lost between Alvarez and Chavez, whose match was highly anticipated a few years ago but appeared as though it might never happen because of the growing weight discrepancy.

But Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs) said he was willing to put the weight difference aside and move up dramatically for such a big fight.

"Putting the weight aside, I'm doing this because it's such a significant fight, if not the biggest in Mexican history," Alvarez said through a translator on the teleconference. "It's personal for me. He has talked bad about me for so many years. I want to shut him up."

Alvarez, 26, said that though he is fighting Chavez Jr., it does not in any way diminish his love and respect for Chavez Sr., the boxing idol of Mexico.

"It doesn't change anything," Alvarez said. "It's a different era now. I still have affection for the father. He's still an idol, but fighting his son has nothing to do with that. It going to be a great fight and the biggest fight in the history of Mexico."

The negotiations were extremely difficult because Golden Boy was putting the fight together with Al Haymon, Chavez's adviser. There is rancor between Golden Boy and Haymon, whom Golden Boy is suing for $300 million. The promotion filed a federal lawsuit in May 2015, alleging that Haymon and his various business entities have repeatedly violated antitrust laws and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.

Throughout the negotiations, retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, a noted mediator working on the Golden Boy/Haymon case, acted as a go-between for the two sides. Weinstein has worked on boxing cases before, including the settlement of the various lawsuits between Golden Boy and Top Rank over Manny Pacquiao's promotional contract several years ago.

As big as the fight might be for Mexico, Alvarez figures to be a substantial favorite against Chavez, whose career has never been quite the same since he lost his middleweight belt in a one-sided decision to Sergio Martinez in 2012 and then moved up in weight.

Alvarez also has even bigger business looming in September against unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin. But both need to win their fights -- Golovkin has his own tough assignment against Daniel Jacobs on March 18 -- and Golden Boy and K2 Promotions can finalize the deal both sides say they intend to make.

Alvarez said he does not feel any pressure in the Chavez fight knowing the Golovkin fight would go down the drain with a loss.

"I'm not thinking about that -- no pressure," Alvarez said. "I'm only thinking about Chavez Jr. I'm not thinking about down the line but, yes, it's a big risk, moving up in weight. But that's what makes this is a great fight. There are so many risks involved."

Gomez said the fighters and their teams would soon embark on a media tour to promote the fight and that announcements would soon be made about the undercard, which could include the return Argentine slugger Lucas Matthysse (37-4, 34 KOs), who has been out of action since October 2015 because of an eye injury suffered in a 10th-round knockout loss to Viktor Postol in a vacant junior welterweight world title fight. Matthysse plans to move up to welterweight upon his return.

"We'll get together with Oscar next week and start discussing undercard plans and the tour," Gomez said. "Right now, we're just very excited we got the fight done. It's gonna be a great fight."
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ILLUMINATI · Jan 16, 2017

I hope Canelo get's beat....it's possible...for the first time in a long time he will be fighting someone who is BIGGER than him....

whiskey · Jan 17, 2017

ILLUMINATI said: ↑

I hope Canelo get's beat....it's possible...for the first time in a long time he will be fighting someone who is BIGGER than him....
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A few years ago maybe. Now this sounds like more of a business deal than a real fight though.

mikE · Jan 17, 2017

This fight should not be bigger than Barrera Morales 1 or 2.

Double L · Jan 17, 2017

wow. never thought the day would come i would be rooting for jc jr.

Xplosive · Jan 17, 2017

I'm torn. I wanna see Crapnelo get fucked up by ANYBODY he fights, even Chumpez Junior. But boxing NEEDS Canelo-Golov to happen, so I guess I'll root for Shitnelo.

Doesn't matter who anybody roots for.... Canelo would beat up that bum.

ILLUMINATI · Jan 17, 2017

whiskey said: ↑

A few years ago maybe. Now this sounds like more of a business deal than a real fight though.
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Yeah....JCC jr. has been a pussy bitch for years...and a lazy fuck...so YES...it's a business transaction...both make big money...Jr. at least tries to make weigh...and come in and get his ass kick by Ginger..

ILLUMINATI · Jan 17, 2017

Double L said: ↑

wow. never thought the day would come i would be rooting for jc jr.
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This^^...a few years ago I would be rooting for Ginger to beat jr. lazy mommas boy ass...

whiskey · Jan 17, 2017

ILLUMINATI said: ↑

This^^...a few years ago I would be rooting for Ginger to beat jr. lazy mommas boy ass...
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X3

Panchyprsss · Jan 18, 2017

ILLUMINATI said: ↑

Yeah....JCC jr. has been a pussy bitch for years...and a lazy fuck...so YES...it's a business transaction...both make big money...Jr. at least tries to make weigh...and come in and get his ass kick by Ginger..
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THIS

Years ago this might have been a great fight. Now is a total mismatch between a prime overrated Mejican and a washed-up over-the-hill hyped job overrated Son-of-a-legend.

Neil · Feb 3, 2017

Julio Cesar Chavez ‏@jcchavezjr1 3h3 hours ago
More
La pelea será en el MGM Las Vegas y mi entrenador sera Nacho Beristain #teamchavezjrmexico
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:goodnews:

Bordon · Feb 4, 2017

This will be one of the "biggest" fights of all time and I have absolutely no interest and can't imagine paying for.

whiskey · Feb 4, 2017

Terp said: ↑

This will be one of the "biggest" fights of all time and I have absolutely no interest and can't imagine paying for.
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I doubt i'll even bother looking for a stream. If I wanted to watch business deals I could catch an episode of Shark Tank.

Hut*Hut · Feb 4, 2017

I thought 160 was too high for him?

Ugotabe Kidding · Feb 4, 2017

Hut*Hut said: ↑

I thought 160 was too high for him?
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He is the draw

REEDsART · Feb 4, 2017

Hut*Hut said: ↑

I thought 160 was too high for him?
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Team Canelo Offered GGG a September 2017 Date, for a Flat Fee of $15mil, @ 160lbs...

PRIOR to the Chavez Jr. Negotiations....

REED:hammert:

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Canelo vs. JCC Jr. 164.5 lbs. OFFICIAL for May 6

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ILLUMINATI Roberto Duran

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Canelo vs. JCC Jr. 164.5 lbs. OFFICIAL for May 6

Dog Jones WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

ILLUMINATI Roberto Duran

whiskey Czarcasm

mikE "Twinkle Toes" McJack

Double L Book Reader

Xplosive X-MOD Bad Motherfucker

ILLUMINATI Roberto Duran

ILLUMINATI Roberto Duran

whiskey Czarcasm

Panchyprsss Clogg's LORD PROTECTOR

Neil tueur de grenouilles

Bordon Undisputed Champion

whiskey Czarcasm

Hut*Hut The Mackintosh of temazepam

Ugotabe Kidding WBC Silver Diamond Emeritus Champ

REEDsART MATCHMAKER

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