By Jake Donovan

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. hopes to make a triumphant ring return Saturday evening when he faces Andrzej Fonfara. The 12-round bout—to be fought at a maximum catchweight of 172 lbs.—takes place at StubHub Center in Carson, California, with Showtime to televise.

The night will mark the first time in more than 13 months since Chavez Jr. has last fought. His rematch win over Bryan Vera was followed up by a lengthy court battle with Top Rank in a disagreement over the terms of his promotional contract. The matter was eventually settled, with Chavez Jr. now officially a member of Al Haymon’s massive stable.

Many were surprised when he chose Fonfara—a perennial Top 10 light heavyweight contender—for his first fight back, even in having a catchweight in place. Most fans expected a soft touch for his ring return, but Chavez Jr. is anxious to make his way back to the top, where he was during his 15-month stay as a middleweight titlist while developing as one of the biggest draws in North America.

“I can (make it) back to the top of boxing; that’s why I picked Fonfara,” insists Chavez Jr. (48-1-1, 32KOs), who came in at 171.6 lbs. for his Showtime debut. “I like the challenge. It’s a challenge, but one that I am ready to win on Saturday.”

While cognizant of the challenge in front of him, another task exists; winning over the boxing public. Generally viewed as the spoiled and lazy son of a boxing legend, Chavez Jr. has his work cut out for him in reclaiming past popularity. The hope is that a war in the ring—or at least a crowd-pleasing performance—will serve as an acceptable start.

“It’s a very good fights, and it’s a great fight for the fans,” Chavez Jr. says of Saturday’s headliner. “Both guys come to fight. I’m ready. I’m very excited for my comeback here in (the Los Angeles area). It’s like my second home. My daughter was born in LA.

“I’m ready to win for all of Mexico and all of the Mexicans living in the USA. The people want to see a great fight, a great show. Tomorrow, I need to (give) a great performance - a great knockout or a convincing win.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox