June 4th is meant to be a crowning night for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Facing off with Sebastian Zbik at the Staples Center on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, the 24-year old will be going for his first world title when he challenges the German for his WBC middleweight crown.
Regardless of what some people think of his skills, many pointing to his lack of intensity, speed, and strength, you would never be able to deny just how popular the Sinaloa,Mexico native has become. Of course, much of it comes from the shadow that hangs over his head in the form of his father, legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., but Junior is slowly carving out a niche of his own.
<--- Slideshow: Sebastian Zbik trains and speaks to the media in Hollywood, California
WBC president Jose Suliaman conveniently stripped Argentina’s Sergio Martinez of the aforementioned WBC strap in order to make things easier for Chavez Jr., who is not the most menacing of champions. There are definitely big plans for Chavez that Zanfer Promotions and Top Rank would love to implement in the near future, specifically a rumored September duel with Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto, a fight likely to land in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand.
But Sebastian Zbik is out to play the role of the spoiler next month. While the 30-year old may be short of words, the few sound bytes coming from him in recent times have been chalked full of a man relishing his underdog role.
Zbik was in Hollywood, California, earlier today to help promote the fight and by all accounts he looks to be in great shape and good spirits. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to produce another upset that we have been seeing in the sport or whether Chavez Jr. will indeed lift his first title into the air but gut feeling says we’ll be seeing a fight from Zbik next weekend.
