Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream & More
In a year that has been filled with electrifying boxing fights, Sergio Martinez vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has the potential to be the best of the bunch.
Martinez looks to continue his impressive run since a 2009 loss to Paul Williams. That was just the second defeat of his career, and he has come back with five brilliant performances since that loss, including four consecutive stoppages.
Chavez Jr. boasts an unbeaten record at 46-0-1 (1 No Contest). He will be defending the WBC Middleweight championship in this contest. At just 26 years old, his star continues to rise in the sport. This is the biggest fight in his career.
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Where: Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
When: Saturday, Sept. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET
Watch: HBO Pay-Per-View ($49.95)
Live Stream: VOD inDemand ($49.95)
TALE OF THE TAPE
| 37 | Age | 26 |
| 49-2-2 (28 KO) | Record | 46-0-1 (32 KO) |
| 5'10" | Height | 6'0" |
| 75 Inches | Reach | 73 Inches |
Martinez's Keys to Victory
Use unorthodox style to keep Chavez Jr. off-balance; Keep hands up on defense
Martinez is an exciting fighter to watch because he tends to throw caution to the wind when he is out there. As soon as he hears the bell, he is going to run out and try to hit something.
It is such a unique style that you wouldn't want anyone else to try it, but it has worked for Martinez. If he is going to attack right from the start, he needs to make sure he isn't leaving himself open to counter-strikes from Chavez Jr.
Being a southpaw does come with its advantages, because there is so much preparation that goes into defending a fighter coming at you with a different style.
Chavez Jr.'s Keys to Victory
Start fast; don't let ego get in the way
Chavez Jr. actually looked human in his previous fight with Andy Lee. He started out slow before recovering to score a knockout in the seventh round.
Martinez is not the kind of fighter you can afford to let get on top of you early, because he is so fast and has a lot of power behind everything he does. If Chavez Jr. can't find a rhythm right away, he will have a lot of work to do in order to dig out of the hole.
Given how big this fight is for his career, Chavez Jr. can't afford to let the spectacle and stage get in the way of his performance. He has never shied away from the spotlight, so we shall see how he does when the pressure is on.
What They Are Saying
In what can only be described as a pinnacle moment in the careers of both these men, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated talked about why Sergio Martinez is ready to make a statement in this fight.
"For more than a year Martinez has pursued Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., watched him win the middleweight title he was stripped of, watched him defend it over and over again against fighters who, Martinez says, "aren't ranked in the top 100 in the world."
"I don't understand why people think he is a great champion," Martinez said. "He doesn't deserve it. He doesn't deserve to be in this position."
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Martinez has the odds on his side, so it is up to him to prove to the world that Chavez Jr. doesn't belong on this stage.
Prediction
Regardless of who wins, given the personal animosity and build between these two stars, this should be one of the best fights of the year.
That said, I think Martinez is one of the three best fighters in the world right now. He is doing things that very few boxers can match, and his style is so hard to prepare for that he can frustrate an opponent at the opening bell.
Chavez Jr. will keep it close until the end, but Martinez will prevail.
Martinez wins via majority decision
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