Two of the world’s premier middleweight fighters go head to head to declare the undisputed champion when WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr meets Sergio Martinez, holder of WBC diamond and The Ring titles. We’ll have live updates from midday.
It’s not unusual to hear some obligatory trash talk in the lead-up to a title fight, but the normally measured Sergio Martinez has taken every opportunity this week to give his younger opponent a verbal pasting.
The 37 year-old Argentine has lost just twice in 53 career fights (49-2-2, 28 KO), earning him diamond status by the WBC, and was regarded as one of the best fighters on the planet after his 2010 win over Kelly Pavlik.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (46-0-1, 32 KO) comes into this fight as the WBC middleweight champion but many believe his elevation to the title has been assisted by his father, the legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
Questions have been raised over the ‘hand-picked’ fighters that Chavez Jr has faced, and the fact that the 26 year-old has not once faced a southpaw in his career only adds weight to this theory.
But today Chavez Jr gets his chance to silence his critics in his first fight in Las Vegas since 2009, when his win over Troy Rowland was ruled a no-contest after Chavez Jr was found to have used in illegal substance.
Verdict
Martinez enters the fight as a solid $1.45 favourite and the expectation is that he will give Chavez Jr a torrid time throughout with his unorthodox fighting style that Chavez Jr might not be accustomed to.
Both boxers are generally slow starters and come from behind in most of their fights, but the power and size that Chavez brings to the ring won’t be enough to overcome to guile and skill of Martinez.
Tip: Martinez (TKO)
Join us from midday (AEST) on The Roar for live round-by-round updates from the highly anticipated clash from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Alan
Roar Guru
Oh yeah there will probaby be a rematch now. The battle never ends......
Alan
Roar Guru
Chavez put all his eggs in the one basket late on and it nearly payed off for the Mexican. Martinez did very well to hold on in the last round because Chavez had plenty of time to produce a KO. Martinez though was the better fighter for the first 11 rounds and deserves his victory under huge pressure from the pro Chavez crowd. Well done Sergio and I hope you can get the fight that you deserve against Mayweather. Don't know if Martinez will be interested in Geale but time will tell I guess.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Nice call Andrew.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Sergio Martinez def Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via UD (117-110, 118-109, 118-109).
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 12: WOW!! What a final round. Martinez is dropped but gets back to his feet. They swing for the fences with Martinez close to gone, but he holds on and should get the decision.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 11: Chavez lands a big shot and the crowd goes wild. Blood continues to come from the cut above Martinez's eye. Chavez traps Martinez against the ropes and lands more shots. Action packed penultimate round, I scored it to Chavez. 108-101 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 10: Into the double digit rounds and Martinez tees off on Chavez who regains his composure and pushes forward. Chavez lands some good shots but Martinez counters. Martinez hits the canvas but it isn't ruled a knockout. Another round to Martinez. 99-91 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 9: Martinez's speed is a class above. He keeps landing shots on the inside before getting back to the outside. Martinez has a bad cut over his left eye but is still dominating the fight. 89-92 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 8: Slower tempo round. Martinez goes back to his jab and Chavez has some success on the inside, but Martinez is still very much in control. 79-73 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 7: The blood is starting to pour out of Chavez's nose. Martinez goes back to his jab and lands some ripping body shots. Martinez comes forward landing some big shots and Chavez is backpedalling. Chavez lands some good shots to close the round but apart from that it's all Martinez. 69-64 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 6: Chavez comes forward and lands a few good shots with Martinez against the ropes. Chavez needs to keep working the body of Martinez, but Chavez's nose is broken. Martinez now presses forward landing some good shots of his own. I think Chavez edges the round. 59-55 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 5: Martinez continues to move in and out on Chavez who is struggling to land on Martinez. chavez starts an attack, but eats more shots by Martinez. 50-45 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 4: Martinez looks a class above Chavez and opens round 4 going back to the head of his opponent.. Martinez is mixing up the angles with his shots and urges Chavez to come at him. Martinez lands some short jabs on the inside to get off the ropes and closes the round with a big shot and Chavez's face is starting to get marked up. 40-36 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 3: Martinez has to keep this fight on the outside if he wants to win while Chavez will be looking to keep close to Martinez. Martinez takes on the body of Chavez with success and lands some good head shots to close the round. 30-27 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 2: Both boxers toying with each other, encouraging each other to land punches. Martinez is carrying his hands low but using his speed to move in and out on Chavez. Chavez pins Martinez against the ropes and lands some good shots but Martinez gets out and returns to centre ring. 20-18 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Round 1: Martinez is on the front foot early stalking Chavez around the ring. Chavez has definitely packed on the weight since the weigh in yesterday. Martinez is using his speed to land shots and get back to the outside. Feel out round for both but Martinez has outworked Chavez. 10-9 Martinez.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Michael Buffer: "Let's Get Ready To Rumbbllleeeee!!!!!!!
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Lead out by his famous father, Chavez Jr makes his way to the ring.
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
Sergio Martinez is now making his way to the ring. The crowd is electric!!
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
We aren't far away now from both Martinez and Chavez Jr entering the ring. What are everyone's predictions for the fight?