Zbik vs. Chavez Jr.

Next Saturday night (6/4) on HBO's Boxing After Dark we get to see the WBC Middleweight Championship fight between title-holder Sebastian Zbik and noteworthy contender Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

To be honest, I personally do not know too much about either fighter, except that both are undefeated.  This will be the biggest and toughest fight to date for both fighters.

It is worth mentioning that the challenger, Chavez, is the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez (who sits at the very top of JD's All-Time Pound-for-Pound List).  Rumor has it that Chavez is nowhere as good as his father was, but that he is still a tough competitor.  People have claimed that without his name, he would not be nearly as recognized in the boxing world.

A rivalry has also begun between Chavez and fellow rising Mexican star Saul Canelo Alvarez, who was named ESPN's Prospect of the Year 2010.  Oscar de la Hoya has already mentioned the probability of a meetup between the two in a few years.

This is an important fight for a few reasons:

1. The winner gets propelled to stardom.  For Zbik, a win would be huge because of the Chavez name.  For Chavez, he will become champion.
2. Win or lose, Chavez defines himself this fight.  The alleged sense of entitlement with which Chavez carries himself will either be dismantled or legitimized.
3. The winner fights Sergio Martinez in the not too distant future.  Let's hope one shows that he is good enough to give Martinez a challenge.

This should be an exciting fight.  Both men are undefeated and want to prove themselves.  Can't miss this one.

As a break from routine, I do not go into this fight with a prediction.  I do, however, have one hope: that there is a knockout.  A knockout this fight would be a great way to hype a fight with Martinez.

-JD