Last month Julio Cesar Chavez Junior captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight championship from Sebastian Zbik in a less than stellar 12 round unanimous decision victory.
In the weeks before the fight with Zbik, Chavez publicly discussed future bouts with true world class fighters such as Miguel Cotto, and pound for pound talent Sergio Martinez. Interestingly enough, after a lack luster performance against Zbik, Chavez Junior looks to pave a path of lesser resistance fishing for fights against retreads Marco Antonio Rubio or Peter Manfredo.
It seems as if Cotto and Martinez are too talented for Chavez Junior to put his coddled career at stake.
While Cotto has moved onto a fight with Antonio Margarito later this year, Martinez is still hunting Junior.
Martinez ? who will fight Britain?s Darren Barker in October ? wants to force the WBC to grant him a shot at Chavez Junior in early 2012.
Granted the position of WBC middleweight diamond and emeritus champion in January of this year, Martinez believes he can force Chavez into a fight under the rules of the WBC.
?Under the rules, Chavez has the opportunity to make a defense then, he has the obligation to fight me,? said Martinez.
In a perfect world, the WBC would follow its own rules and regulations, but a visit to the sanctioning bodies? website will reveal that Martinez is not listed as an emeritus champion ? only a diamond champion, whatever that means.
It is unlikely that the business machine behind Chavez Junior would risk a fight against Martinez ? one he would likely lose.
Martinez recognizes the trepidation of Chavez?s Team to put him in a real championship fight.
?His obligation is to fight the best,? said Martinez. ?But I am not too sure that he wants to fight me.?
