Chavez Jr. to defend in September

Fresh after winning the WBC Middleweight title last week, Julio Cesar Chavez will make his first defense in September according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“It’s very important that he go right back into action because he’s the kind of kid that doesn’t understand discipline when he’s not training,” Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told ESPN.com.
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“When he’s training he’s all right. We’ve got to get him back in the gym as soon as possible.

“We talked to Freddie (Roach) and went over everything and the date that works for us is Sept. 24, and that’s what we’ve asked HBO for,” said Arum, adding that the fall bout likely would take place in Houston or San Antonio. “That’s right before Freddie leaves for the Philippines to train Manny. He doesn’t think the kid would go to train with them in the Philippines. It’s tough enough to get him to train at the Wild Card (in Hollywood, Calif.). I’ve talked to HBO and they are considering it.”

“If they have a good rating, you have to keep the momentum going,” Arum said.

Arum said there are three opponents under consideration for Chavez’s next fight: European champion Darren Barker of England, former “Contender” participant Peter Manfredo Jr. of Providence, R.I., and Marco Antonio Rubio, Chavez’s Mexican countryman.

“I think we’ll try to do Chavez against (junior middleweight titlist) Miguel Cotto next spring in a big pay-per-view, but in the meantime we’re looking at those guys for Chavez in the fall,” Arum said.

“He’s a guy who should be fighting four or five times a year,” Arum said. “Because of Freddie’s situation, Chavez will fight in September. If not on that date, Sept. 24, around that date. HBO is not the only game on the block. Given his ratings, if HBO didn’t want it, or couldn’t do it, we could go to Showtime or do it ourselves.”