Julio Cesar Chavez Targets Pound-for-Pound Rating with Win over Sergio Martinez

WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.  is set to break into Ring's pound-for-pound rating with a win over Ring's middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO’s) of Argentina on September 15 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Chavez, who is the son of legendary boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr., is currently rated No. 3 in the middleweight rating. If Chavez wins over Martinez, he could replace the Argentinian as the Ring's middleweight king.

Chavez is not included in the current Ring list of pound-for-pound fighters, while Martinez is ranked No. 3 behind Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who are both ranked No. 2. The No.1 slot is currently vacant.

The 26-year-old aspiring pound-for-pound fighter is coming off impressive wins over some rated opponents in the last two years, including his latest win via TKO over Andy Lee of Ireland.

Some of his wins were against Marco Antonio Rubio, Peter Manfredo and a title win over Sebastian Zbik, from whom he snatched the WBC middleweight title.

Chavez is undefeated with 48 professional fights to his credit. An orthodox fighter, Chavez stands 6'1" with a reach of 71".

Martinez, who is a southpaw, stands 5'10" with a reach of 75". The 37-year-old Martinez has a clear advantage in reach while Chavez has a three-inch edge in height. 

The aging Martinez is known for his arrogant fighting style as he puts his hands down to entice his opponent to come closer for a hit. 

Martinez is fresh from his victory over Matthew Macklin last March 17 at Madison Square Garden in New York. He is undefeated in his last five fights after losing to Paul Williams in 2009. In their rematch about two years later, he knocked out Williams at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

Among his latest opponents, aside from Paul Williams and Matthew Macklin, he has faced Kelly Pavlik, Sergiy Dzinziruk and Darren Barker.

Meanwhile, erstwhile strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza is back in Chavez's camp to prepare the young Chavez for his September showdown with Martinez.

Ariza told The Manila Standard, he's been working at the camp and said Chavez Jr. had “wanted to get back to doing some of the old things that we had done because he had some leg problems in the last camp. He says this fight is obviously going to be a fight of conditioning and he’s got to be able to fight three minutes of every round because he knows Martinez is obviously a very active fighter.” 

Martinez “is going to take him (Chavez, Jr.) up there with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and he’s going to be one of the top three names in boxing,” Ariza said.

In their press tour in Mexico City to promote the fight, Chavez said (via Examiner.com):  “Martinez has said a lot of bad things. Let's see if he wants to go to the center of the ring and fight like a man. I have real one-punch knockout power. I don't think Martinez has that power. After all his verbal bravado, I just hope he stands in the middle of the ring and fights like a man.”

Responding to Chavez's statement, Martinez said: “I will knock him out inside seven rounds. I gave his father a baby bottle (at the press conference) so he can take it to his baby after I give Junior a real beating. He won’t be eating solid food with the few teeth remaining after I get through with him."

The middleweight boxing event is promoted by Top Rank Promotions in association with Zanfer Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.