Roach: “Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Has A Lot of Potential”

Undefeated middleweight Julio César Chávez Jr. (40-0-1, 30 kos) arrived Tuesday, May 25 in Los Angeles from his hometown of Culiacan, Mexico to finish preparing for his upcoming bout against Irishman John Duddy. After a brief stop at his hotel, Chávez Jr. traveled to the famed Wild Card Gym, where he worked with Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach for the first time.

“I have being training in Culiacan for three weeks,” Chavez Jr, said. “And I have come to finish my training with Freddie Roach, who I consider a great trainer and a tremendous strategist. [He] will help me take my career to the next level.

“Bob Arum and Fernando Beltran suggested that I train with Roach, and I jumped at the chance to work with such a great trainer,” he added.

Also assisting Chávez Jr. is Alex Ariza, who will supervise Chávez Jr.’s running regimen, with Roach taking over for the afternoon boxing session. Chávez Jr. will face Duddy on Saturday, June 26 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in the main event of Top Rank’s “Latin Fury 15.”

The up-and-coming fighter followed every indication made by his famed trainer during their inaugural session. They focused on movement, as well as on staying aggressive and on the offensive. “I felt very good with Roach for being the first time we worked together. I come here with an open mind and to give it my all,” Chávez Jr. said.

Roach, whose most famous fighter is pound-for-pound king MANNY PACQUIAO, seemed happy with what he saw from his new pupil. “Julio César Chávez Jr has a lot of potential as a boxer, and I feel very confident that this last four weeks before his fight will be enough to get him ready to be the best that he can be,” Roach, said.

After a second day of work-outs at the Wild Card, Chavez Jr. will fly to San Antonio for a press conference on Thursday, May 27, which will broadcast live at 12:30 p.m. on WWW.TOPRANK.COM/TRLIVESTREAM.