According to Dan Rafael, WBA Featherweight champion, Chris John of Indonesia will be making his American debut when defends hist crown against Rocky Juarez in Juarez’ hometown of Houston on February 28.
John (42-0-1, 22 KOs), 29, whose American promotional rights are held by Golden Boy, is regarded as the No. 1 featherweight in the world. Among his defenses was a controversial decision against Juan Manuel Marquez in Indonesia in March 2006.
Juarez (28-4, 20 KOs), who was Luevano’s mandatory challenger, and promoter Golden Boy, had been trying to make that match with Luevano promoter Top Rank for the Houston card. However, Luevano manager Cameron Dunkin did not want to go to Juarez’s hometown.
Top Rank proposed that the bout take place in April in Puerto Rico, where the company will promote an HBO card headlined by junior featherweight titlist Juan Manuel Lopez. But Juarez wanted to fight at home, and when John emerged as a serious option a few days ago, Juarez opted to face him in Houston rather than go to Puerto Rico to face Luevano for more money.
It will be Juarez’s fourth shot at a world title. The 2000 U.S. Olympic silver medalist lost a decision to Humberto Soto for an interim featherweight belt in 2005, dropped two decisions to then-junior lightweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera in 2006 and a decision to Marquez for a junior lightweight belt in 2007.
The bout will be the co-feature to Marquez defense against another Houstonian, Juan Diaz in what is one of the most anticipated bouts of the first-quarter of 2009.