It’s look like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will be facing Daniel Jacobs next month on December 20 — if Chavez Jr. can make it to the finish line. So far we’ve already had at least one hiccup when news broke that Chavez Jr. denied a VADA drug test, causing him to be temporarily suspended by the Nevada commission.
The fight has now been moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and Jacobs’ promoter Eddie Hearn gives some of his thoughts on the whole situation. Check out some excerpts below...
Hearn on the reports of Chavez Jr. refusing a VADA drug test:
“He didn’t sign for a fight or sign for any VADA. They turned up to test him and he said ‘no, I haven’t signed for it,’ so they said ‘we’re gonna not license you.’ We had three venues in play: Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Texas. We went to Texas, we went to the ABC and said ‘presumably you’re happy to license Chavez?’ they said ‘yes, absolutely.’ [Chavez] signed for full drug testing and on we go.”
On if they have suspicious about Chavez Jr. following that incident:
“At the end of the day he hadn’t signed for testing, but he probably should’ve taken the test. But he’s also probably quite paranoid and he’s also made a lot of mistakes. So I can’t really speak on his behalf because he’s not my fighter and I don’t know the full situation other than what I just told you.
“So at the end of the day I think if someone signs to VADA and signs up to a procedure and doesn’t test, then they shouldn’t be allowed to fight. He hadn’t signed to VADA because he hadn’t signed the contract. Now he signed all the VADA forms, all the forms with the commission, so test him and see what happens.
“This guy [Chavez Jr.] has had a lot of mistakes in his past. Someone knocks at your door saying ‘oh we’re here to test you for that fight’ and you haven’t signed for it — I mean, look, I’m not gonna speak on his behalf but when he signed the fight he was asked to fill out all the testing forms, filled those out immediately, and it’s on.”
On being concerned about Chavez making it to the fight, making weight, etc.:
“Yeah, and we have Gabriel Rosado on the undercard who’s ready to step in if either fighter for any reason can’t make that date. But, you’re quite right that Chavez made a lot of mistakes in his career. He’s training hard, we saw him today, he’s in great shape, so as far as I’m concerned he’s making a lot of money...if he doesn’t make this fight, his career is probably over. If he wins this fight, he’s one of the biggest stars in the sport.”