Briefs: Chavez cancels fight vs. Hearns

– Amid rumors of weight issues and concerns about the competing Saul Alvarez-Alfonso Gomez card, it was reported Friday that a cut suffered on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s hand will likely force him to pull out of his scheduled Sept. 17 bout with Ronald Hearns. According to Chavez’s manager, Billy Keane, the WBC middleweight titlist cut his hand on a ceiling fan a few weeks ago and hasn’t been able to spar or properly train for the upcoming fight.

– WBA junior flyweight champion Roman “El Chocolatito” Gonzalez (29-0, 24 KOs) will defend his title Oct. 1 against former WBC titlist Gilberto Keb Baas (35-21-4, 22 KOs) as part of the Toshiaki Nishioka-Rafael Marquez card at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

– Second-generation fighter Aaron Pryor Jr. (16-3, 11 KOs), will take on South Africa’s Thomas Oosthuizen (15-0, 11 KOs) on the HBO undercard to the Andre Berto-Jan Zaveck main event, Sept. 3.

– UK super middleweight prospect, Geore Groves (13-0, 10 KOs) has a signed a three-year promotional contract with British promoter Frank Warren. Groves is coming off a May majority decision victory over arch-rival James DeGale.