By Jonny Stapleton

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr has admits Andy Lee could be most talented fighter he has ever agreed to fight.

The WBC World champion is known as one of the most protected middleweight strap holders in recent history, but will be pushed out of his comfort zone when it he defends his title against the Irish southpaw in El Paso Texas on June 16.

The Limerick contender wasn’t Top Rank’s first choice for their Mexican cash cow and they are openly worried about the Kronk fighters size, southpaw stance and punching power.

Chavez Jr, who is unbeaten in over 40 fights, himself admitted he finds southpaw’s tricky and yesterday revealed Lee will prove his toughest test to date.

 “Lee is a very good fighter. Maybe he is the toughest test of my career,” Chavez said on Boxing Scene.

 Preparation certainly is a big issue for the middleweight who has struggled when it has come to the scales of late and it seems he has weight problems ahead of test with Kronk fighter Lee.

Indeed, Wild Card strength and conditioning trainer Alex Ariza had to leave the Philippines, where he was working with Amir Khan and Manny Pacquioa, to get Chavez on track to make 160 lbs. The son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, however claims he will make the weight with ease and is adamant he won’t be weight drained come June 16.

 “I am a responsible fighter and I will make the weight without trouble,” Chavez added.

Weight drained or not Lee knows he faces a tough test against the Mexican in what is effectively his back yard. The Freddie Roach mentored fighter has a massive following in Texas and Lee can expect anything but a warm reception in the Sun Bowl, El Paso. The Chavez faithful snapped up 5000 tickets in the opening weekend and the 50,000 capacity stadium is expected too to be sold out over the next few weeks.