Chavez Jr. confirms contract up, says he wants to renew with Top Rank
Following reports his contract concluded with Top Rank, prospect Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has confirmed the news but said he wishes to stay with the promotional company.
Recently, Top Rank chief Bob Arum said that Chavez (40-0, 30 KOs) will fight on December 4 against Alfonso Gomez (22-4, 11 KOs). Many were rooting for a bout between Chavez and WBA junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto, but Arum confirmed Chavez was
already booked.
Chavez’s comments came shortly after an assertion by Golden Boy president Oscar De la Hoya that the fighter was a free agent, and that he had approached Golden Boy about a future contract. The comments enraged Bob Arum, who immediately responded that Chavez
was still contracted to Top Rank and that De la Hoya’s interference was a contractual faux-pas.
The dispute didn’t aid matters as Top Rank is currently in the throes of a lawsuit with Golden Boy, who claim they are entitled to monies not received from recent Manny Pacquiao fights.
Chavez clarified the contract dispute, saying: "I have no contract, but I'm looking to reach an agreement to remain with Top Rank. I accepted the fight on December 4 with Alfonso Gomez because in mid-March, I will have the fight with Cotto for the world
championship. I was already going to fight Cotto, but the fight is important, and it needs a good promotion because it's a big fight.”
Chavez clarified that he had spoken to other promotional companies in a bid to assess the situation and see what kind of business prospects were in play. “I have spoken to Golden Boy, Don King and many others.”
At 24, Chavez already has 43 professional fights, without a single defeat. He is the WBC Silver Middleweight champion, and hopes to continue in the glorified traditional of his father, Julio Cesar Chavez.
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