Former WBC middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will have been out of the ring for nearly a year when he rises into the super middleweight division against Brian Vera on Sept. 7 at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, an event that promoter Top Rank announced on Wednesday.

Chavez (46-1-1, 32 knockouts) is coming off a unanimous-decision loss to RING champion Sergio Martinez last Sept. 15 in Las Vegas, after which he tested positive for marijuana. Last month, the Nevada State Athletic Commission reduced the fine it had initially levied against Chavez, 27, from $900,000 to $100,000, this, after the fighter already had completed the term of his nine-month suspension.

To his credit, Vera (23-6, 14 KOs), who is 31, has split victories with Ande Lee, twice decisioned ex-154-pound beltholder Sergio Mora, and stopped former junior middleweight titleholder Sergei Dzinziruk in the 10th round. Vera’s win over Lee was by seventh-round knockout, and his loss, by unanimous decision.

Trained by Ronnie Shields, Vera has won six of his last seven bouts. Over a nine-month span, Vera had a four-bout winning streak, the past two by knockout.

Being promoted by in association with Zanfer Promotions, Banner Promotions and Tecate, tickets for Chávez-Vera will go on sale Friday at 1 p.m. ET/ 10 a.m. PT priced at $250, $150, $100, $75 and $50. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.axs.com, by telephone at (888) 929-7849 or at The Staples Center box office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

GUEVARA SIBLINGS RETURN ON SATURDAY IN MEXICO

The fighting Guevara brothers, light flyweight Pedro (19-1-1, 13 KOS) and bantamweight Alberto (17-1, 6 KOs), will co-headline a card in Quintana Roo, Mex. Pedro Guevara will meet ex-titleholder Mario Rodriguez (15-7-4, 11 KOs), and Alberto Guevara takes on Jonathan Vidal (17-0, 9 KOs).

Also on the card are Ivan Morales (21-0, 13 KOs), younger brother of four-division titlewinner Erik Morales, in a junior bantamweight matchup Alejandro Morales (14-3, 7 KOs), and Roberto Manzanarez (23-1, 19 KOs) takes on Francisco Camargo (7-1, 7 KOs) in a lightweight bout.

Presented by Golden Boy and Cancun Boxing de Pepe, Guevara-Rodriguez will be broadcast on Televisa starting at 10:30 p.m. CT in Mexico, and Fox Deportes will air at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT in the United States.

Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]