The boxing fight that will mark Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.'s return to the ring is still unknown, since the match that was originally slated to go down in the Mexico City Arena is now rumored to be relocated to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, according to the site El Punto Critico.
But despite rumors, ticket sales for the match in Mexico began last week, where on Aug. 3, Chavez Jr. is scheduled to face U.S. boxer Brian Vera. But if the fight moves as speculated, it would take place in Los Angeles on Sept. 7.
The doubt arose from a statement by Bob Arum, Top Rank promoter, who told the Los Angeles Times that he had a new date reserved for the fight against Vera.
But the Mexican boxer has already signed a contract for the encounter in the Mexico City Arena, so a change of location could trigger a lawsuit.
"When an event is announced is because it's practically closed and has a backup, it's not our policy to advertise events without having confirmation," said a representative of the arena, which has not issued any official communication about the match.
Either way, the organizers reported that if the event gets canceled, they will return the cost of tickets to all who had purchased them.
Billy Kane, adviser to the former world champion, made a statement in the newspaper La Aficion:
"For now I can't say why those tickets are on sale. I have no comment on this matter. Julio does want to fight in Mexico, with his people, but I think those tickets are preliminary."
Meanwhile, Top Rank representative Ricardo Jimenez said that the company "has not had communication with Julio, we are still waiting for the definition of his future. He doesn't have any complications to perform there (in Mexico), he simply has to notify."
Chavez Jr. will end a nine-month suspension for testing positive for marijuana on June 15, days after the defeat against Argentina's Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez, which caused him to get stripped of the Middleweight World Boxing Council title. If it's confirmed that the fight will go to Los Angeles, the boxer must first renew his visa, and in order to do so, he will have to pass a drug test because of his history.
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