Former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is returning to the ring.
The son of Mexican legend and Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. will face Mexican countryman Alfredo Angulo on Dec. 1 on the undercard of the heavyweight world title fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Showtime announced on Friday.
However, the scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight will not be part of the four-fight Showtime PPV event. Instead, Chavez-Angulo will be part of a split-site doubleheader that will air on Showtime and for free on the network’s YouTube and Facebook platforms beginning at 6:45 p.m. ET as a lead-in to the pay-per-view at 9 p.m. ET.
The “Countdown Live” program on Showtime will also include the long-scheduled fight between light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson and interim titlist Oleksandr Gvozdyk, which will open the broadcast from the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Canada.
Chavez (50-3-1, 32 KOs), 32, has not been in the ring since giving virtually no effort in a shutout loss to Mexican rival Canelo Alvarez in their heavily hyped showdown on May 6, 2017, in Las Vegas.
The fight with the long-faded Angulo (24-7, 20 KOs), 36, who was at his best as a junior middleweight, has long been discussed for various dates and cards until being finalized for Dec. 1.
“I am excited to be back on Dec. 1 to perform for the great Mexican fans in Los Angeles,” said Chavez, who is just 4-3 in his last seven fights dating to 2012. “At my weight I know I can beat anyone. I am focused and feel strong. Angulo will be first, but then I will pursue a belt at 168. I’m putting the division on notice. Chavez is back.”
Angulo, an all-out brawler, has been in many exciting fights but has been quite inactive in recent years. He has also lost two fights in a row and is 2-5 in his last seven fights since 2013. He is coming off an eight-round split decision loss to former junior middleweight titlist Sergio Mora in a spirited battle on April 7 in Las Vegas.
“I have been training very hard in anticipation of this fight and this is the best I have felt in a long time,” Angulo said. “I am looking forward to defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and getting a title opportunity in the near future. I’m thankful for everyone who has supported me and I promise to surprise a lot of people on Dec. 1.”
Stevenson (29-1-1, 24 KOs), 41, of Montreal, is one of boxing’s most devastating punchers and will be making his 10th title defense against Gvozdyk (15-0-0, 12 KOs), who will go into the fight with famed cornerman Teddy Atlas as his trainer for the first time.
“I’ve been pushing myself in training to be ready to put on a great performance Dec. 1 and defend my title once again,” said Stevenson, who is coming off a draw with former titlist Badou Jack on May 19. “My old trainer, the late, great Emanuel Steward, used to tell me that ‘knockouts sell’ and that’s what I’m going for in this fight. I know I’m facing a good boxer who’s coming in very determined. He’ll be ready, but it won’t be enough. It’s going to be showtime on Showtime and another victory for ‘Superman.'”
Gvozdyk, 31, who claimed a bronze medal for Ukraine at the 2012 Olympics and now fights out of Oxnard, California, won an interim title by outpointing France’s Mehdi Amar on March 17 in New York, a victory that made him Stevenson’s mandatory challenger.
“I have been waiting for this title shot for a very long time, and I will take full advantage of the opportunity,” Gvozdyk said. “It doesn’t matter where we fight. I am fully prepared to become the new WBC light heavyweight champion. Canada, ‘The Nail’ is coming to put on a show!”