Daniel Jacobs vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr was officially announced earlier today in Los Angeles, with the two fighters meeting up for a press conference ahead of the Dec. 20 fight, which will stream live on DAZN from Phoenix, Arizona.
Why Phoenix? Because Chavez, 33, is currently suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for evading VADA tests, meaning the original plan to have the fight in Las Vegas went out the window.
It’s also still not entirely clear that this fight will actually happen. Veteran Gabriel Rosado is reportedly on standby in case Chavez (51-3-1, 33 KO) can’t fight in December.
Jacobs (35-3, 29 KO) will be moving up from middleweight to super middleweight. The show will also feature Julio Cesar Martinez vs Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC flyweight title, Maurice Hooker will move up to welterweight, and Luke Campbell will also be on the card, with Eddie Hearn promising “much more” on the show.
“I’m going to be ready, I’m going to train really hard for this fight,” Chavez said in his brief time at the mic.
“It’s exciting to be back in the ring facing a stellar fighter in Chavez Jr,” Jacobs said. “It’s a great opportunity for me to display my skills at the super middleweight division. I’m excited because I feel like I get an opportunity to be strong, go inside the ring fully healthy, no excuses outside. I think this is going to be my showing. I think this is a great opportunity against the perfect opponent, the perfect caliber of opponent. Styles make fights, and I felt like he complements my style very much so.”