The boxing world is beginning to debate the proposed September 15th duel for middleweight bragging rights between WBC champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Argentina?s Sergio Martinez. Once thought to be a whitewash in favor of the 37-year old Martinez, the fight now appears to much more competitive given the progression of Chavez Jr., who was seen this past weekend laying down a punishing 7th round TKO over Andy Lee in El Paso, Texas.
Speaking with Riverside, California?s Mikey Garcia last night, the modest and undefeated featherweight contender told me that he actually now favors Chavez in such a matchup.
Garcia is getting ready for a September 7th date with WBA featherweight champion Celestino Caballero and spoke on some of the confusion regarding the bout while also taking a look at some other storylines in the sport, including Tim Bradley?s controversial split-decision over Manny Pacquiao, a potential Saul Alvarez-Victor Ortiz meeting, and more. This is what Garcia had to share?
Getting ready for Celestino Caballero? ?We?re still getting in shape. We went to Big Bear last week twice and we?ll be there [Monday] to get some sparring. We?re going to start picking up the training in the weeks coming up. I?m not sure what?s going on with Caballero?s people or with the promoter trying to put the fight together, so I?ve just got to be ready for whatever they have in mind.?
Sizing up Caballero? ?He?s got a lot of experience. He has a style that could give anybody problems, with his reach, his height, his awkward style, and he uses all of that to his advantage. He?ll give anybody problems but I think I can figure that out in the first round or two like I have in my previous fights.? Taking in the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight? ?I saw it. I thought Manny might have been winning the earlier rounds based on his aggression and trying to engage in the fight. I didn?t think Bradley was able to do too much. Because I guess Pacquiao was stronger and faster that Bradley thought. The judging was different that most people thought. I agree with most people; I thought Pacquiao won the fight based on just his aggression.?
Thoughts on a fourth meeting between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez? ?We?ve already seen that three times. I?ve seen the best of Pacquiao with Marquez but I?ve also seen the best of Marquez with Pacquiao. If they fight again, it could be the same thing that we?ve seen in the past, where they both show everything they have. I felt Marquez did real well the last time. The judging again favored Pacquiao in that one but it?s all up to the judges. I think that Marquez isn?t going to get knocked out by Pacquiao and I think Pacquiao isn?t going to get knocked out my Marquez.?
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.?s stoppage over Andy Lee on HBO this past weekend? ?I saw it. I think Chavez improved a lot and showed a lot of improvement in this fight than in previous fights that I saw him. He looked real, real solid, real strong. He looked determined to show that he?s a better fighter than people think and I think he did show that. I got to give it to Chavez, he did real well.?
Favoring Chavez Jr. over Sergio Martinez? ?I think it?s going to be an interesting fight based on the styles. Martinez is slick, a southpaw, but I also think Chavez showed that he can really put pressure on a southpaw and dominate with his strength. Chavez is big, strong; Martinez is fast, quick and skillful. He?s slick but I got to say Chavez [performed] very well this last time and I?d have to go with Chavez.?
Unsure on Saul Alvarez vs. Victor Ortiz? ?I think it?s a good fight for the fans to watch. I think Victor can bring something to test Canelo. Canelo hasn?t really faced someone like Victor punching-power wise but I got to look a little more into it. Canelo, he?s a big guy himself. And Victor, he?s going to come in weight. He was a junior welterweight, now he?s fighting at welterweight. He?s going to have to come up for that fight and I don?t know how Victor would compete in that weight class.?
