CARSON, CALIF. (August 29, 2013) — Former World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion and Son of the Legend JULIO CÉSAR CHÁVEZ, JR., returning to the ring in his 2013 debut, and No. 1 contender BRYAN “The Warrior” VERA formally announced their fight at a packed Los Angeles press conference today. Taking place Saturday, September 28, under the stars at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., the Chávez vs. Vera 12-round super middleweight rumble marks the first time Chávez has fought in the Los Angeles area since June 4, 2011, when he won the world title over undefeated interim world champion Sebastian Zbik. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT.
Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Zanfer Promotions, Banner Promotions and Tecate, remaining tickets to Chávez vs. Vera, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $20 (plus applicable taxes and fees), can be purchased online at www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at the StubHub Center box office, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Suites are available by calling (877) 604-8777. For information on group discounts, please call (877) 234-8425.
“Vera is the real deal, a warrior,” said Chávez. “Years ago I sparred a few rounds against Vera when I was in Dallas during the Pacquiao vs. Margarito event. Vera was pretty intense and I knew he could fight. We were in a ring set up inside of the Gaylord Hotel. So this fight on September 28 will challenging for me. I am just so happy getting back into the ring after such a long layoff. I think about the Sergio Martinez fight every day. A little of me died inside when I lost that fight. Could I have done better? Of course I should have but it did not happen. Now we have Vera who is aggressive and punches hard. I wanted to come back against a great fighter and Vera is all of that. I plan to win this fight and then we will discuss my plans for 2014.”
“We could have stayed around and fought WBO champion Peter Quillin but we know what is at stake with all of this,” said Vera. “I feel like I been in camp for three fights. I expect to be victorious in a great fight on September 28th.”
Chávez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs), of Culiacán, México, returns to the ring for the first time since his thrilling world title loss to Sergio Martinez on September 15. Their Méxican Independence Day spectacular was the highest-attended boxing event in the history of the Thomas & Mack Center, with 19,186, topping the record set by the heavyweight championship rematch between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, which drew 19,151 in 1999. He captured the WBC middleweight crown in 2011, winning a majority decision over undefeated interim world champion Zbik at STAPLES Center, just a few blocks away from where his father won his first world title, in 1984, at the old Olympic Auditorium, when he knocked out Mario Martinez to capture the vacant WBC super featherweight title. Chávez Jr. successfully defended his title three times, knocking out Andy Lee and Peter Manfredo, Jr. in the seventh and fifth rounds, respectively, and winning a unanimous decision over two-time world title challenger Marco Antonio Rubio.
Vera (23-6, 14 KOs), of Austin, TX, who enters this fight having won six of his last seven bouts, is riding a 16-month, four-bout winning streak. Vera’s current hot streak includes NABO middleweight title victories over Sergio Mora, former world champion Sergeii Dzinziruk, and Donatas Bondoravas, the last two victories coming by way of knockout. Vera, who trains in Houston with Ronnie Shields, is currently world-rated No. 1 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
