By Rene Umanzor

Julio César Chávez Jr. is fully focused on his career. After suffering his first career loss, and his WBC middleweight title, to Sergio Martinez in 2012 - he tested positive for marijuana and lost interest in boxing. Coming into last year's fight with Bryan Vera, Chavez struggled with weight and the fight, originally scheduled for 165-pounds, was increased to 168 and then to 173. Most believe Chavez had not done enough to win, but he gets the chance for redemption later tonight when he faces Vera for a second time, at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

"I'm going back to being a world champion. I want to be the Mexican fighter who will take the baton from Juan Manuel Marquez, Morales, Barrera. I know there are good fighters such as Juan Francisco Estrada, with a lot of talent, but with my name - I would carry the weight of Mexican boxing," Chavez said.

"After the fight with Martinez, I was disillusioned, I was not motivated, I didn't know if I would continue in boxing. I was out for more than a year, gained weight and had no desire to fight. I had no control of my life. But with the arrival of my daughter everything has changed, I'm happy and motivated to return to the ring.

Rene Umanzor covers boxing in Mexico for The Record.