[Photos] Chavez Jr-Vera II Opening SA Press Conference: Both Promise Decisive Victories

Photo Credits: Chris Farina/Top Rank

SAN ANTONIO — Yesterday, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Brian Vera officially announced the rematch to their controversial first encounter, taking place March 1 at the Alamodome. The HBO World Championship Boxing card will air at 9:45 p.m. ET and feature a main event worthy undercard matchup with hot prospect Vasyl Lomachenko challenging WBO featherweight champ Orlando Salido.

For those wondering, Chavez-Vera II will take place at 168 pounds. It’s rumored that if Chavez can’t make weight (again), he stands to be fined a minimum of $250,000. Vera is already on record as stating he doesn’t believe Junior will make it considering he needed a last-minute 172 pound catchweight in the initial bout and still looked drained. As you can see from the pictures, Chavez doesn’t look grossly out of shape, but it’s near impossible to determine what weight he’s at now.

CHAVEZ JR.

People are going to see I have the fire and hunger back. I have been training for five months and my weight is perfect.

The last time we fought, I was coming off a hurtful loss and was out of the ring for over a year. While training to fight Vera I made a call to Bob Arum saying I was having a weight problem and needed help.

In that fight I was maybe 40 or 50 percent of myself and deep inside I knew it would be a difficult fight.

I controlled the first fight and connected on more punches.

The thing is that Vera actually thought he won the first fight which will make this fight even better.

VERA

I plan to beat Chávez decisively this time. I have fans from all parts of Texas plus former fans of Chávez who are now on my side because of what happened in our first fight.

He is a big guy and is hard to hurt. In our first fight I thought the crowd over reacted when he landed a few punches. He ran around a lot, not fighting like he did against Andy Lee.
Chávez caught me with a couple of big shots but I wasn’t buzzed that much. I expected much more from him

I thought I won the first fight. My trainer  Ronnie Shields thought so too, and that got everyone in my corner excited. When I heard a 98-92 score my heart told me I would not get my hand raised. I was in sudden shock.

We have a new plan of attack – more movement, that kind of stuff. It’s going to be a lot different this time.

He wants to win. But I have more hunger and no weight problem. I am more motivated. This fight will do away any doubt who is the better fighter.