Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Martinez awaits after Lee victory
WBN Editor
It’s a fight not many people envisaged happening anytime in the
future, but on September 15th at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las
Vegas, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez will fight it out for the
true world middleweight championship.
In a shrewd move by promoter Bob Arum, Chavez, 26, has been
guided away from his mandatory challenger for a year whilst he gains valuable
experience and grows into being a fully-fledged world title holder - to some
out-cry by boxing fans it has to be said.
But the decision looks to have paid dividends as a stunning stoppage
win over Andy Lee last night has the disbelievers taking notice and on the back
of Martinez’s last two performances, Chavez may go into the fight at least on
equal terms to the Argentine.
‘Maravilla’ laboured through much of his last two bouts over
the past twelve months, with Darren Barker and Mattew Macklin giving a good
account of themselves before Martinez stepped on the gas at will and stopped
both in the late rounds.
It may be a case of the 37 year-old being stale and unable
to give explosive display’s against what he may see a mediocre opposition, after
calling out Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao for the best part of two years.
The southpaw has been going through the motions since his
devastating knockout of Paul Williams in 2010 and taking away Chavez Jr’s
47-fight unbeaten record may just be the challenge he needs to reinvigorate his
career.
Chavez will be full of confidence going into the bout
though, which promises to be his final fight at 160lbs. The Mexican will be
looking to avoid becoming Martinez’s fifth straight stoppage victim and
establishing himself as one of the best in the world pound for pound on his
defining night.