Julio Cesar Chavez JR: STEROID CONTROVERSY – BOXING NEWS
By Geno McGahee
The WBC Middleweight Champion, Julio Cesar Chavez, JR., 45-0-1, 31 KO’s, is slowly earning his way as a legitimate fighter and not just a piece of marketing, capitalizing on the fact that he is the son of the great, Julio Cesar Chavez.
In his last fight, he outworked and outmuscled Marco Antonio Rubio en route to a wide decision win. This victory did not come without any red flags though. Going into the fight, he weighed 181 pounds, which is over the light heavyweight limit. His weight at the scales going into the fight was 159 pounds, but when you saw him next to Rubio in the ring, he was huge.
The topic of steroids came up, launched by a protest from team Rubio because Chavez, JR., violated WBC regulations that in title fights, the combatants must leave a urine sample for drug testing. Rubio charges that Chavez, JR., acted very suspicious, and when he was asked at the press conference why he didn’t leave the sample, he gave no answer.
Jose Sulaiman, who has enjoyed a cozy relationship with Chavez, SR., over the years, noted that “we forgot” in regards to a drug test. Sulaiman has been bought and sold so many times that I wouldn’t be surprised if his head was spinning and he legitimately forgot. The truth of the matter is that there is money to be made with Chavez, JR., and they will bend the rules if need be. Rubio is not the only one suspicious here.
Chavez, JR., has been suspended before for a dirty drug test, and the hope is that he will be forced to take one now to clear the air. Most likely, this will not happen.
Outside of the steroids allegations, what about the weight for a middleweight fight? 181 pounds is a dangerous weight to come into the ring with. Joey Gamache was hurt severely when Arturo Gatti used weight manipulation to overpower him and nearly kill him. There has to be a better way to do this and a safer way. At this point, safety and honesty are not top priorities. The lining of the pockets of the promoters, WBC, and the Chavez family takes priority. It’s sickening.
