Julio Cesar Chavez Jr: Targeting quick return to the top

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has called out Andre Ward, Gennady Golovkin and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez prior to facing Marcos Reyes on July 18.

The 29-year-old (48-2-1-KO32) is looking to rebuild his career after being stopped in the ninth by Andrzej Fonfara in April but retains confidence in his ability.

Having fought Fonfara at light-heavyweight, it seems unlikely Chavez Jr will return to middleweight, where he was once WBC champion – but named Golovkin and Alvarez as potential opponents anyway in the hope they'll be prepared to step up.

In an interview reported on boxing247.com, Chavez Jr said: "For me, I’d like to fight Ward, Golovkin or in a lesser way Canelo.

"Why? Me and Golovkin would make a war, the way we fight for the fans. Me and Canelo I think too (is) a great fight. Me and Andre Ward is more boxing but it’s great for boxing because he won a gold medal and he’s one of the best fighters in the world.

I think a fight with Golovkin at 168. Come to my weight, fight at 168. I think I’ll have a problem at (making) 160. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

"I think a fight with Golovkin at 168. Come to my weight, fight at 168. I think I’ll have a problem at (making) 160.

"I see in the last Golovkin fight against Willie Monroe, that he was a little tired in the third and fourth rounds and I think the guy needs to look for better opposition. Now at 160 he don’t have opposition.

"He needs to fight Froch, Dirrell, these kind of fighters you know? I think he’s very careful with his opponents you know?"