PHILADELPHIA (July 18, 2013)On Saturday September 7th at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Brian Vera will step into the ring with former WBC Middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in what will be the biggest test of Veras career. The fight is promoted by Top Rank, Banner Promotions and Zanfer Promotions and will be televised live on HBO Championship Boxing. Brian Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) is currently ranked number-one by the WBO in the middleweight division. Vera is currently on a four fight win streak with victories over former world champions Sergiy Dziznriuk (37-2-1, 24 KO) and Sergio Mora (24-3-2, 7 KO). This fight had been in the works since May and due to the fight being close to finalized a few times, Vera has been training for weeks in Houston, Texas. I will be fully prepared. I have never had this much time to train and prepare, said Vera. I feel like I already have a head start and I am going to make everyone proud. I am going to win The fight will be contested at 168 pounds, which Vera has no problem with. I have actually fought three times at that weight and Chavez hasnt. I know the weight will not affect me and I will be strong at the weight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs) is coming off his first defeat in his much anticipated showdown last September against Sergio Martinez. Vera believes he is set up in the right spot to pull the upset. He is probably taking me lightly but it doesnt matter. I will be 110% on fight night. Chavez Jr. like his father, is a darling among the Los Angeles sports fans, as this will be his 3rd appearance at the STAPLES Center. (Chavez Jr. won his world title in the arena versus Sebastien Zbik) but Vera sees a silver lining going into the hostile environment. Fighting in Los Angeles is better than fighting him in Mexico City. Vera knows that a win will only bring him the biggest fights in the Middleweight division. A win will turn my whole career around and it will change my life. Chavez Jr. who tested positive for a banned substance after the Martinez fight and sat out the subsequent nine month suspension has had his share of outside the ring negatives and Vera knows that it could factor in as the fight draws near. He is only human like everyone else. Of course the suspension, the fines and some of the other stuff that has been said about him will play on his mind. I just want to thank my trainer Ronnie Shields and the people at Plex Performance as well as my manager David Watson, my promoter Banner Promotions and the rest of my team. I will make them proud on September 7th. Tickets go on sale this Friday at $250; $150; $100; $75 and $50 (Plus applicable taxes and fees) and can be purchased online at www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the STAPLES Center box office, Monday Friday, 10 am 6pm. For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing,on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/banner-promotions orfacebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo,twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.
I'm sure Vera is now pretty happy he didn't get that GGG fight. Now he'll face a less talented, less focused opponent with know weight troubles, and all for four or five times the money.
Jr beating Vera isn't a done deal. This is almost a pick 'em fight with maybe a slight edge going for the cheater. It's not like chavez is skilled. Vera is teak tough and can himself throw a good shot, plus he's not gonna be outsized dramatically in this contest. A Vera win would not surprise me one bit. GGG brutally beats both though.
the wbc is a joke, i read a few days ago there ordering chavez to fight rubio in a rematch. how pathetic are these ppl. i think jr will struggle to even make 168. should he be successful i'd like to see him against Edwin Rodriguez
Vera has the chin, grit, strength and stamina to compete with Chavez. The problem is that Vera's left isn't as effective or accurate as his outstanding lead right. He has trouble establishing a jab, and he hasn't been great turning over with a good left hook. That cost him against Kirkland, and without a radically improved left hand, will he be able to throw enough thunder with that fist to pile up points while keeping Chavez guessing?
As unskilled as edwin is he's still better than Jr, plus he'd be the bigger man on fight night too. La bamba wins hands down.
I got it a good fight, Vera's a battler and a tough fight for anyone when he's on form, and Jr ain't the one to box circles round him. We'll get to see if Jrs taking his boxing seriously, at least, but if he's half-assed about it Vera will probably take it, I think. If Jr comes to fight, I probably got him edging it, or possibly late rounds TKO, but very interested in seeing what happens.
I have a strange feeling that Jr's overlooking Vera, which would be a dumb, dumb move on his part. This fight is more dangerous for him than a typical comeback opponent because I don't think Jr can win unless he fights the kind of fight Brian's best at. And, on his terms, Vera's not the easy out his early record would suggest. Even if Jr wins, he's going to take punishment, and there's only so much more he can take until his chin cracks. Using your face as a shield only works for so long.
