Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Beats Sebastian Zbik: 3 Potential Opponents for Chavez

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. showed exactly what type of fighter he was Saturday night; the good and the bad. 

Chavez scored a tough fought, majority decision win over Sebastian Zbik to claim the WBC middleweight title.

Chavez Jr., 25, struggled early as the quicker and faster Zbik peppered him with combinations and seemed to have an early lead. But Chavez, true to the family name, continued to come forward, landing hard body punches that seemed to wear, the formerly undefeated, Zbik down.

An apparent 12th-round advantage secured the win for Chavez.

So what does this all mean?

While we all knew Chavez wasn't his father, a much tougher than expected fight against Zbik isnt exactly a ringing endorsement of Chavez as a fighter. Was the close fight to Zbik a matter of Zbik fighting over his head or Chavez not really being that good? 

While those are unanswerable questions for now, they will undoubtedly be answered in the coming months of Chavez's career.

Here's three potential opponents for Chavez.  

3. Antonio Margarito

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LAS VEGAS - JULY 26: Antonio Margarito celebrates his 11th-round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto to win the WBA welterweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena July 26, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Coming off losses in two of his last three fights, one thing has become very clear: Antonio Margarito can not and will not beat good boxers with speed.

Well Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is not a slick boxer and not blessed with great speed. 

Styles make fights and this one would have the makings of an all out war. Margarito has shown a willingness to come forward and trade with the best in the business and I was very impressed with the heart shown by Chavez Jr. in his fight with Zbik.

Both fighters would have much to gain from a potential win.

For Chavez he would have the chance to secure a victory over a big name opponent for the first time in his career.

Although the past several years haven't been great for Margarito, having plaster of paris found in your gloves always seems to do that, he is still a big name in the sport and a win for Chavez would gain him much respect.

Conversely Margarito would have the chance to prove he's still a player at 154 and 160. Bob Arum stated that Margarito is still a pay-per-view attraction. How true that is, we'll have to debate, but a loss to Chavez would without a doubt put a stop to that talk.

2. Miguel Cotto

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LAS VEGAS - MARCH 12: Miguel Cotto celebrates his tko knockout win in the twelfth round against Ricardo Mayorga during their WBA Super Welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 12, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty

While I'm not sure if he's ready or not it seems clear that Top Rank is intent on matching Chavez with Miguel Cotto.

While the product in the ring could way very one sided, the pay per view numbers would sure be a hit for Top Rank.Cotto has always drawn well with the public carrying PPV cards with Ricardo Mayoraga and being apart of 1.25 million buys in the Manny Pacquiao fight.

Chavez, drawing on his father's name, has already captured a loyal legion of mexican fans and those numbers are only to grow with his championship belt.

As for the product in the ring I don't believe Chavez is ready. While he's been in some wars, Miguel Cotto is still the top man at 154 and I wouldn't see a problem for him at 160. Having Emanuel Steward is his corner is going to do nothing but help.

If I was advising Chavez, and if I was I'd advise him to find new advisors, I would tell him to wait before he takes on someone with the pedigree of Cotto.

We've all seen the wonders trainer Freddie Roach can do with his fighters and some extra time in the gym and a couple fights could have Chavez ready for a showdown with Cotto.   

1. Sergio Martinez

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ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - NOVEMBER 20: Sergio Martinez celebrates after knocking out Paul Williams in the second round of their Middleweight Championship fight on November 20, 2010 at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty I

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. may be the title holder at 160, but Sergio Martinez is the man. 

The number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Sergio Martinez is much too much for Chavez to handle at this point in his career.

Its really a referendum on the sport when a title holder doesn't even belong in the ring with the number one challenger, but so is the crazy state which is boxing.

No analysis is really needed to state why Chavez should and will have nothing to do with Martinez, for now. Martinez is simply too fast, too slick, too experienced and just on a whole different level than Chavez.

This is not to say Chavez Jr. isn't any good, he just isn't ready for this level of competition. Really Sebastian Zbik was a big step up for Chavez and you just don't go from Sebastian Zbik to Sergio Martinez and expect things to go well. 

Martinez was in attendance for Chavez's majority decision victory over Zbik Saturday night. Martinez just sat back and watched with a look of "Please, let me get my hands on one of those guys" looks on his face.

Hopefully for Chavez's sake, Martinez won't get his wish.