Chavez vs Martinez: Sergio Ready for War, Promises Knockout

Boxing fans barely have had the chance to catch their breath from Andre Ward's impressive victory this weekend, before pivoting to one of the biggest fights in recent middleweight history this coming Saturday.

WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-0-1 32 KO) will defend his title against The Ring Magazine Champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-1 28 KO) on Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The war of words between the two men has escalated in recent weeks and has reached a fever pitch as we now enter fight week with the usually reserved Martinez making a bold prediction

"I have everything necessary to win. I'm better fighter, and I'm convinced that I'm going to knock him out before the end of the twelfth round," Martinez told BoxingScene.com

"He probably feels his physical strength and his size and might be a good thing for him, but if he plans to win by being bigger and stronger - he already lost. I am ready for a real war."

Martinez won The Ring Magazine middleweight title in 2010 by dominating Kelly Pavlik. He has not lost since dropping a highly disputed decision to Paul Williams in 2009.

Chavez Jr. has never tasted defeat in a professional ring, though he has not faced anything near the level of opposition Martinez will bring Saturday night.

The fight will be broadcast in the United States on HBO PPV.