Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was on the winning side of a controversial decision over Brain Vera in their first bout in September and the second time around Chavez Jr. will look to leave no questions who the winner is.
The first fight between the two took place at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., this time on March 1 the showdown will be held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, a state where Chavez Jr. feels very comfortable lacing up the gloves.
“I am looking forward to returning to the ring on March 1 in San Antonio. The fans in the great state of Texas have always been very kind and supportive of me throughout my professional career and the people of San Antonio in particular have been great to me,” Chavez explained.
San Antonio is special to Chavez Jr. as its the location of the fight he said proved his critics who doubted his boxing skill wrong.
“For many people, my fight in San Antonio in June 2010 against John Duddy was my breakout fight and it led me to my first championship fight one year later. It made believers out of many boxing fans that had doubts about my abilities.”
Chavez Jr. has fought in Texas 15 times, winning all of those bouts, with three of those fights taking place at the Alamodome. Vera is from Fort Worth, Texas and should have a strong fan backing himself, making for what should be an electric atmosphere.
Despite issues regarding Chavez Jr. not making weight marred the lead up to his first match with Vera, Chavez Jr. knows he did not give his best effort last fall.
“We are fighting in Vera’s home state this time around and he will have a lot of support in the stands, but inside the ring it will just be us –mano a mano,” Chavez Jr. said. “ And while I felt that I won the first fight with my power and accurate punching, I know that I left some doubt in many people minds because of my weight issues and the fact that I did not have the consistency in my attack that I needed during that fight.”
With a less than stellar performance the first time around, Chavez Jr. realizes it all comes down to being ready for all aspects of a fight, something that he was not in last year’s bout.
“In boxing it always come down to being prepared and being ready to go in the ring and performing to the best of my ability and that is what will happen against Vera this second time around. I need to be active, consistent and land my shots with power and do as much damage as I can early so I can finish the fight with a big flourish.”
With questions surrounding Chavez Jr. and his will to take training seriously, the Mexican fighter wants to make a statement March 1 and leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that he is the better fighter.
“My fans in Texas and around the world know that I will always give them the best fight possible for them to enjoy no matter the circumstances.,” Chavez revealed. “Rest assured that for this fight on March 1, they will see me at my best and I will get the win in a very clear and decisive fashion.”
Fans can catch all the action leading up to the rematch on Road to Chavez Jr./Vera II which debuts Monday, February 17 at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Chavez Jr. vs. Vera II takes place Saturday, March 1 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX and will be televised live on HBO beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.
