Chavez Jr. vs. Lee: Style of Fight Will Determine WBC Middleweight Champion

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Andy Lee will battle for the WBC middleweight title Saturday night. Imposing a style tailored to their specific strengths is always important for boxers, but it is paramount in this contest. 

Chavez Jr. is physically imposing and has knockouts in 31 of his 45 wins. Lee has comparable power (20 knockouts in 28 wins), but he would be smart to avoid a heavy-fisted brawl.

Let's take a look at each fighter's style, and why their tendencies will shape the outcome of Saturday night's title bout. 

Andy Lee

Lee is Irish. That's usually associated with a brawling fighter who's always ready to attack. Lee's power numbers do nothing to negate that assumption, but he is more skilled than you may think.

He must avoid turning this match into a slugfest. The crowd in El Paso is going to beg for it, but Lee has an advantage in the quickness department. 

We've seen it before. Chavez Jr. struggles to carry extra weight. This slows him down and turns him into a one-dimensional (albeit powerful) fighter. Lee has to use this to has advantage and force Chavez Jr. to chase him around the ring.

Playing cat and mouse will allow Lee to pick his spots. He has a devastating right hook, and Chavez Jr. will be more susceptible after spending a few rounds trying to corral Lee.

Perhaps the biggest chip in Lee's corner is Emanuel Steward. Steward is the world's best trainer. He has a laundry list of elite boxing names who've learned under him. And he will have Lee ready to dictate the tempo Saturday night.

Lee is a well-rounded talent with a dangerous array of punches. Wearing Chavez Jr. down with stylistic boxing and cagey defense is the way to go for this exciting underdog. 

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. 

Chavez Jr. has never lost, and he is rated in six different weight classes. However, he has not fought a headline fighter, struggles in heavier weight classes and tends to wear himself down late.

This will be Chavez Jr.'s third defense of his WBC title. He defeated Peter Manfredo Jr. and Marco Antonio Rubio prior to Saturday's defense against Lee.

Chavez Jr. would like to stand in the middle of the ring and throw haymakers back and forth with Lee. If that happens, he is going to win. There's no doubt about it. 

He will come forward throughout this fight's 12 rounds, and he loves to throw body punches to counter opposing power shots. Lee's right hook could leave his torso vulnerable to a shattering body blow. 

Chavez Jr. is used to fighting quicker fighters. He won the WBC belt over Sebastian Zbik by controlling the nimble fighters movement. However, he hasn't faced a fighter who brings the best of both worlds like Lee does. 

This fight isn't necessarily about what Chavez Jr. and Lee can do. It's more about what Chavez Jr. can't do. "The Son of the Legend" cannot win this fight if he allows Lee to dance, dictate the pace and pick his spots. He must overwhelm Lee with his dazzling power and force Lee to stand toe-to-toe. 

Chavez Jr. cannot win a "boxing" match. He must win a brawl, and he must end it early. If Lee makes this fight anything other than that, he will be the new champion by the end of the night.