Sergio Martinez Wins Decision Over Julio Cesar Chavez

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Rematch Possible, Could Take Place At Cowboy Stadium

Through 11 rounds of action, it seems highly unlikely that there would be any interest in a rematch between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez. After all, Martinez had been having his way with the young Mexican superstar throughout the bout. While Chavez was never showing any sign of giving up, Martinez was able to pick him apart, bust him with the jab and dig to the body.

Then came round 12 and Chavez rattling and knocking down Martinez. Chavez's flurry after the knockdown was a violent attempt to put away his foe but he simply ran out of time. And, after that one round, a rematch became much more interesting.

Bob Arum said that he got a call from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressing interest in hosting a potential 2013 rematch at Cowboy Stadium.

Scott Christ talked about the history of Cowboy Stadium hosted boxing at Bad Left Hook:

Pacquiao vs Clottey drew 36,371 paid (41,843 total, and a bogus 50,994 announced) for a gate of $6,359,985. Pacquiao vs Margarito drew 30,437 paid (40,154 total), a major disappointment given that it was expected that the Mexican Margarito fighting in Texas would mean a better crowd than Ghana's Clottey drew, but the novelty of a boxing show at Cowboys Stadium didn't seem to stick, and the fight brought in a gate of $5,404,760.

These are not numbers to sneeze at, to be certain, but in the case of Pacquiao, they just don't make dollars or sense. Take Pacquiao's June 9 fight this year with Timothy Bradley, considered a pretty poor gate showing for Manny in Las Vegas. That fight sold 13,229 tickets for a total gate of $8.9 million.

Chavez Jr. is a huge Mexican superstar though and I think this grudge match, following the shocking 12th round, could do huge business in Texas.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Full Fight Highlights

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. may not have been able to defeat Sergio Martinez in last night's HBO pay-per-view main event, but he has nothing to be ashamed of. Chavez was badly outclassed for the majority of the fight, with Martinez able to outbox him and pick up enough confidence to even engage in a little bit of showboating.

But in the final round, Chavez stunned Martinez with a flurry and dropped him to the canvas. Martinez was able to get to his feet and managed to survive a furious Chavez assault to the final bell.

Here are the highlights of the fight including the knockdown in the final round:

You can read our coverage of the fight right here at SB Nation and you can also check out our boxing blog Bad Left Hook for their tremendous in depth coverage.

You can also check out our full coverage of last night's bout between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Josesito Lopez here.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Results: Martinez Survives Late Knockdown To Win Decision

Sergio Martinez had the fight with Julio Cesar Chavez well under control heading into the twelfth and final round. At least, that's how it seemed.

Instead of coasting through the last round to an easy victory on the scorecards, Martinez decided to come at Chavez and prove a point. And it almost cost him dearly.

Chavez cracked him with a right hand that shook Martinez's legs, Martinez tried to fire back only to get caught again and crash to the canvas. He was able to climb to his feet and avoid the ten-count and young Chavez Jr. charged forward, pouring every ounce of effort he had left in his body into trying to get the finish.

Sergio tried to fight back but Chavez fired away, looking to put away his older foe but ended up unable to get the finish as the final round came to an end.

In the old days of 15 round title fights, Martinez might have lost his standing as one of the pound-for-pound best in the world. But the game is a 12 round one and Sergio had built up a huge lead in the rest of the fight and when the scores of 117-110, 118-109, 118-109 were read and his hand raised, he had to know he dodged a humongous bullet.

We'll have much more coming on this fight in the next 24 hours.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 11

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is not in Sergio Martinez's league. We've learned that over the course of tonight's fight.

But he is also not a quitter and he is giving everything he has in a fight where he is simply outgunned. Martinez has been busting him up all night, but Chavez is insisting on fighting until the final bell. As Scott Christ put it over at Bad Left Hook "this kid is going down swinging, now."

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 110-99

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 10

Chavez Jr still can't do much of anything. Sergio is smoking him in there. Heads finally clash, and right on Martinez's cut on the left eye. A minute to go here, and Sergio comes on again. Sergio's flicking jab has been a quiet but deadly weapon. Rights from Martinez. Taking him apart.

Chavez does land a left, and Martinez beats on him again in response, then taunts.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 100-90 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 9

Martinez moving and looking for little shots more than the big stuff from earlier. Chavez can't find a way in, though. Martinez pop, pop, pop. Chavez has done nothing this round. Martinez backs him down. Does it again. Chavez is getting toyed with this round. Martinez doesn't even have to put in the effort. He's getting a breather because Chavez Jr can't do anything with him. Jab from Chavez, Martinez back with a pair of shots.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 90-81 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 8

Julio just can't keep up with him. This is getting ugly - this is turning into Pacquiao-De La Hoya. Martinez moving, sticking, moving, Chavez trying his ass off here but can't do much. He gets a shot in, and Sergio comes back with three or so.

Chavez, bless his heart, is battling with all he's got left. It's not a lot, it seems, but damn is he trying. Martinez bleeding a bit by the left eye. Just a bit. Martinez takes the round again, but Chavez Jr isn't saying die.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez

Fight Score: 80-72 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 7

Sergio gets back to work to start the round. Chavez Jr can't get a single minute of momentum here. His face is busting up. Sergio is just putting it on him now. Even what Chavez Jr did last round is gone.

Chavez Jr is breaking down mentally. Martinez is beating the will from him, and that's no small statement. Chavez Jr, hurls shots to the body. Martinez ripping at him and Chavez just can't beat this guy.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 70-63 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Results Live (Round 6)

Chavez gets Martinez tot he ropes and throws, but it's still Sergio dancing, striking from range, and taking this fight around the ring. Chavez Jr trying to come alive here. He knows what's happening. Chavez Jr bleeding from the nose.

Chavez with a couple rights, and then a body shot. He's alive this round, but sergio is right there too. And then Sergio just rips at him. And again he smacks him a few times. Sergio with an uppercut with his back to the ropes, then a left, and Chavez misses a right.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 60-54 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 5

Martinez poking his jab at him early this round. Body left from Sergio. Left to the body again. And again. And again. Sergio is smoking him right now. I'm not saying this can't turn the other way on a big shot, but boy, school is in session.

That straight left to the body is there all day. Chavez Jr is doing nothing this round. He's getting totally dominated by a superior fighter. Chavez tries to throw to the body, shots are blocked. Chavez lands one, maybe, and Martinez lands one back, if not two. Sergio to the body again, now daring Chavez Jr to fight.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 50-45 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 4

For part of the fourth round of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez, they were fighting on the inside, the ideal place for Chavez. But Martinez is too slick and too good for the kid.

Near the end of the round, a big shot from Martinez had Chavez buzzed badly.

Chavez doesn't look out of his league, but he's not quite on Martinez's world-best type level through four rounds of action.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 40-36 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 3

Sergio Martinez appears to be figuring things out in his HBO pay per view boxing main event against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Martinez has been winning the early rounds and now he's showing supreme confidence, playing with Chavez Jr. and breaking him down with slick defense and a body attack.

Chavez is trying, but the Martinez left hand and body attack are just too much.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 30-27 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Results Live: Round 2

Sergio Martinez having a very good round this frame against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Martinez. Here's how Scott Christ at Bad Left Hook saw the round in his live blog:

Sergio throws a left, blocked by Chavez Jr's glove. Body shot from Chavez, and Sergio ties it up on the ropes, gets out. Combo from Martinez, Chavez shrugs it off and clowns on him. Sergio digs to the body twice, now we're heating up. Now we're heating up, y'all.

Sergio pops him with a hook. Chavez Jr definitely showing body dedication so far. Left to the body from Martinez. He's gotten that straight left in a few times to the body. Chavez makes Martinez miss a little, then a right to the body. Chavez has him on the ropes and throws to the body. Martinez to the body, too. Chavez RIPS to the body. That was a hard left hook. Both looking at the body.

Martinez hunting a little now, shooting shots to the head, mostly short. Left to the body again from Sergio. Sergio using his movement to close the round.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez

Fight Score: 20-18 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Live Results: Round 1

The first round of the HBO pay-per-view main event between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Sergio Martinez saw a slow start to the fight with a rabid crowd. Both men were feeling things out in the early part of the round. Martinez was able to work the jab and dig to the body a little bit in the round while Chavez wasn't able to get much of anything done.

The crowd is wild for Chavez though and things feel like they could get interesting very quickly with the way the initial round played out.

Round Score: 10-9 Martinez
Fight Score: 10-9 Martinez

You can read our Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Vs. Sergio Martinez fight preview here, our review of the betting odds here and our complete coverage of the event at our StoryStream for the event here.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Results: Martinez Wins Split Decision Over Beltran

Miguel Beltran Jr and Roman Martinez stepped into the ring to fight one fight ahead of the HBO pay-per-view main event of Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Sergio Martinez. What was a good fight on paper turned into a much better fight in action as the two men really threw their all into each round of give-and-take action.

Here's how Bad Left Hook blogger Scott Christ saw the fight:

Martinez (26-1-1, 16 KO) and Beltran (27-2, 17 KO) waged a close quarters war at times, drilled each other at distance at times, and both employed heavy offensive weapons. Beltran found a lot of success with his right hand, and Martinez seemed to put punches together better in combination. Neither did major body work, but Beltran had the advantage there with a strong left hook.

It must be noted that a point deduction late in the fight by Russell Mora kept this fight from being a majority draw. But it must also be noted that the deduction wasn't really unjust -- Beltran had been warned for hitting behind the head, and told he'd lose a point the next time, and there did appear to be intent there.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Results: Rigondeaux Defeats Marroquin By Decision

On the HBO pay-per-view opener for the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez bout, Guillermo Rigondeaux took on Robert Marroquin. Rigondeaux is a brutally efficient fighter who can be so patient in his attack as to seem almost boring, but has the ability to finish an opponent at the first mistake they make.

Tonight the fight started off slowly and in the third round it was Marroquin that landed the harder shot that seemed to bother Rigondeaux a little bit. But you can't move Rigondeaux off his gameplan, so he went right back to waiting for the opening and he found one in the fifth round when he dropped Marroquin with a straight left hand.

The fight seemed to slow into a pattern at that point as Rigondeaux was just being the better fighter and controlling the fight, but he was buzzed again slightly in round 9 when Marroquin got in another good shot.

But Rigondeaux was able to get the fight back in control from that point and even scored another big knockdown in the final round. But Marroquin got back to his feet and was able to fight to the final bell, showing impressive heart in a fight he had to know he lost.

The official scorecards read: 118-108, 118-108, 118-109 for Rigondeaux

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

How To Watch Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez: Live Streaming Online

If you're the type of person who enjoys watching big fights online instead of via your cable or satellite provider, have no fear about catching the bout between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Sergio Martinez tonight. The evening's off-TV undercard bouts will be streaming live on the Top Rank Boxing website.

But, more importantly, the four fight pay-per-view main card will also be streamed live on the website.

From the press release put out by Top Rank to announce the online PPV:

The four-bout pay-per-view card, produced and distributed live online by Top Rank and DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT, for $49.95, boasts interactive features unique to the digital platform through MLBAM's (MLB Advanced Media) technology. The enhanced and unique viewing offers a four-shot, multi-angle dynamic player that will allow viewers to interact and feel an enriched experience. The live online pay-per-view is exclusive to U.S. viewers.

The fight will be available online exclusively through the Top Rank website.

We will also have live coverage all night here at SB Nation.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Fight Preview: Class Warfare In Las Vegas

The boxing world moves quickly. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was once reviled by many boxing fans, seen as little more than his father's name with promoters pulling strings to get him big money fights, titles and favorable conditions at all turns. The idea of Chavez facing Sergio Martinez seemed laughable just earlier this year, the idea that he'd enter the fight as only a slight underdog was downright absurd.

But one thorough drubbing of solid B-tier fighter Andy Lee by Chavez, a ballsy move by Top Rank to stick their star against a top level fighter and a heated build-up brings us to tonight's bout, one that the Vegas oddsmakers seem to think Chavez has a fair chance of winning.

While Chavez has been given as easy a path as seems possible to boxing superstardom, Sergio Martinez has lived the life of the working man's fighter.

Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook touched on the differences between the two men in his stunningly good preview of the fight at Bad Left Hook:

The main angle -- and rightly so -- of this fight is the differences in upbringing, both in life and in boxing, between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Sergio Martinez. Chavez was, as Lou DiBella noted at yesterday's press conference, a kid that boxing fans saw on TV dressed in a tuxedo and held above his iconic father's head. Chavez Jr has never wanted for anything in his life -- he's never been denied the things he desired, never really had to put in the work.

Martinez, on the other hand, was a poor kid in Argentina, who came up the hard way, and had to earn his living in the ring by repeatedly convincing American fans, finally, that he was legitimate. This is a fighter, now considered one of the best in the world, who didn't get on HBO until he was 33 years old, back in 2008 when he smashed Alex Bunema and opened some eyes.

While one should never put too much stock in a preview show that was edited for entertainment purposes, HBO's 24/7 series profiling the fighters and their preparation showed that even this version of Chavez isn't too far removed from the brat that turned so many fans off when he was coming up in the game. Chavez didn't show too much dedication to his training, continually showing up late to sessions, skipping training altogether..etc. But he did look in good shape at the weigh-ins and didn't have any of his old weight cutting issues.

Meanwhile, Martinez looked his usual ripped self after what appeared to be another "business as usual" training camp. Working hard because that's the only way Sergio knows how to work, mixing in a little hyperbaric recuperation because all that matters is performance and the fight.

In so many ways, Chavez represents what the blue-collar, working-class man despises. While the sanctioning bodies that flood the sport with trinkets and silver titles and regular titles and diamond titles are one of the worst parts of boxing, one only has to see a Randal Bailey weep after winning a shiny belt to understand that the title of "world champion" means something to a boxer. Martinez earned his titles the hard way, coming up a long road and having to wrest the gold from the hands of dominant middleweights like Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams, he lost one of those titles to politics that seemed directly played out to benefit young Chavez.

Again I turn to Bad Left Hook to describe the circumstances:

What happened was that Martinez held the WBC title, and, well, the WBC wanted Baby Boy to have it. Sebastian Zbik was named the mandatory challenger, which was fine with Martinez. It was not, however, fine with the old HBO regime, who turned down the fight and had Martinez instead fight Sergiy Dzinziruk, as if somehow Dzinziruk were a more notable or legitimate challenger than Zbik was. Dzinziruk is a better fighter than Zbik, but that cannot be used as reasoning to defend a move like this. It had absolutely nothing to do with quality.

Lo and behold, HBO approved Zbik as an opponent for Chavez Jr for a fight just three months after Martinez beat Dzinziruk, and wouldn't you know it, but Zbik had been promoted from interim to full champion, and Julio got to face a weak titleholder. They -- the WBC and HBO -- might as well have put a bow on the green belt.

For Martinez, a lifetime of work and the belt that represents the greatness he has achieved was taken by Chavez Jr. and many members of boxing's power elite. It's a story that resonates because it's a story that we see too often in the world. And it may not be entirely fair to Julio to cast him as the representation of all that is not pure in boxing, but that's just how things are.

Still, it should be noted that Chavez is a good fighter and, more relevant to the discussion, fights like his old man...like a man of the people. That's something that Carlos Acevedo pointed out over at The Cruelest Sport:

While some still believe that Chávez, Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, draws thousands-and produces blockbuster TV ratings-on name value alone, the truth is he has also earned a following due to his style. Unlike manufactured stars like Chad Dawson-who resembles a repressed Victorian in the ring half the time-Chávez all but guarantees action between the ropes. This concept is quickly becoming a relic in a sport now dominated by network suits and a clueless media apparatus that often doubles as a PR machine for fight racket power structures. Chávez went toe-to-toe against John Duddy, Sebastian Zbik, Andy Lee, and Marco Antonio Rubio in the last two years-providing what this industry needs most-entertainment.

Ultimately, for all the drama surrounding the fight, and for all the things wrong with Chavez's rise, what we have tonight is a real fight. A fight between two men who bring the fight regardless of their upbringings and backgrounds.

Martinez is the more proven fighter at the elite level, but he's also getting up there in years. Chavez hasn't yet proven himself against anyone anywhere near Martinez's pedigree, but he's a bull once the bell rings.

A win in this fight is going to have to be earned because there are men of every class who only know one way to fight, and these are two of those men.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez: Time, TV Schedule, Odds And Live Results

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez will meet on HBO pay-per-view in a welterweight championship bout that has gotten a lot of attention. Chavez is looking to legitimize his career and step away from the image as the protected golden boy son-of-a-legend while Martinez is looking to put a beating on Chavez and take some of the value that Chavez brings for himself.

Here are the details you need to know.

Fight Time and TV Schedule:

The show goes live at 9 p.m. ET via standard pay-per-view outlets on cable and satellite. There will also be a live online streaming PPV on Top Rank's website.

Fight card:

WBC Middleweight Title: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez
WBA Super Bantamweight Title: Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Robert Marroquin
WBO Super Featherweight Title: Roman Martinez vs Miguel Beltran Jr
Middleweights: Matthew Macklin vs Joachim Alcine
Light Heavyweights: Mike Lee vs Paul Harness

Odds:

We covered the odds for the fight yesterday. Martinez will enter the ring as a slight favorite for the bout.

We'll also have live results and coverage right here at SB Nation all night long.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Weigh-In Results: Martinez 159, Chavez Jr. 158

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez hit the scales in Las Vegas tonight ahead of tomorrow night's HBO pay-per-view main event. The two have developed quite the rivalry since the bout was announced and surprised the boxing world.

Martinez checked in at 159 pounds while Chavez was at 158.

The crowd at the weigh-in was solidly behind the young Mexican superstar, cheering him on and booing Martinez loudly. The two engaged in a staredown after making weight and talked a little trash, but there was no shoving or anything extra that could have been an issue.

The fight tomorrow should be a good one, with odds close to a pick 'em and two talented fighters with styles that could turn out to be quite complimentary of each other. We could even be looking at a fight of the year level clash.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez: Live Streaming Video Of Weigh-In

This evening will see Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez hit the scales to make it official for tomorrow night's HBO pay-per-view clash. While many weigh-ins are mere formality, Chavez Jr. has a history of trouble making weight as well as a strange history of things happening at weigh-ins, before fights and after fights involving athletic commissions and the like.

So, at least in this case, this might be a weigh-in that even the casual observer decides to tune in and check out.

The weigh-in festivities will be airing live on HBO at 6:30 p.m. ET but we'll also have live streaming video of the weigh-ins right here starting at the same time.

Here is the video:

We'll have live coverage of the fight tomorrow night, assuming nothing happens at the weigh-in to jeopardize the bout.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Latest Odds And Gambling Picks

One of the more interesting aspects of the HBO boxing pay-per-view main event between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez has been the gambling odds. What was once seen as a fight where Martinez would be a massive favorite was actually viewed as a near even-money fight once it was actually made.

The Wynn sportsbook had opened the fight with Chavez a +150 underdog to Martinez as a -170 favorite.

The current odds are slightly wider than that, which makes sense given that those opening odds were viewed by many as shockingly close. Right now at Bovada it's Chavez +170, Martinez -210.

I do think Chavez has a fair shot to win the fight. He's big, he hits hard, from what we've seen, his chin is solid and his last performance against Andy Lee was an eye-opener. But we've also seen him have continued trouble making weight, we've seen him put in some really bad performances against medicore competition and we've never seen him in the ring with anyone nearly as good as pound-for-pound list mainstay Martinez.

There are also odds on the length of the fight with over 9.5 rounds at -260 and under at +180.

Picks: I'm big on Martinez here. Later today my official fight pick will be out and I'm picking Chavez based on gut feelings and all of that, but you don't gamble with your gut, you gamble with the available information. And the available information is that Martinez is the better boxer. Anyone who disputes that Martinez is the better talent and doesn't have more consistency in his performances against better opposition is out of their mind.

To put money on Chavez is to put money on a guy who doesn't always bring consistency against guys who are low C-level fighters, and Martinez is as much of an A-level fighter as there is in the sport right now.

I'm also a fan of the over here. Again, use the available information. Chavez's chin appears quite solid, and, even though we know Martinez can knock people out (see the second Paul Williams fight), I don't really think he's going to spend much of the early part of the fight really setting his feet and letting his hands go against a bull like Chavez.

I don't think Chavez's style is really one that catches and stops Martinez early. If he's fighting smart, he'll be working the body pretty hard in the early rounds. I don't see a stoppage coming in this fight and, if there is one, I think it's a corner stoppage or ref stoppage in rounds 10-12.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez: Full 24/7 Episode One And Two Video

The fight between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez was interesting on paper at the time it was made, a seeming overreach for the young Mexican star. But the odds have slowly slid closer and closer to even as Saturday draws near. It seems almost impossible that the level of trash talk between the two and the high quality of the 24/7 series haven't had an impact on where at least some of the betting money has been placed.

24/7 has been a standard promotional tool for HBO pay-per-view events over the past few years. While many boxing fans have gotten burnt out on watching the Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather stories unfold over the past few years, the inclusion of fighters new to the series has been a breath of fresh air.

Here is the full first episode of 24/7 Chavez Jr. vs. Martinez:

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Press Conference: Sergio Martinez Says He'll Break JCC Jr's Face 'In A Thousand Pieces'

Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will face each other on HBO pay-per-view this Saturday night in one of the biggest fights of the year. Today, both men, their promoters and several other involved parties sat down in front of the media for the fight's final press conference.

Both men had some strong words when it was there turn to talk. Transcriptions via Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook.

Sergio Martinez:

"This is a great fight, and I'm ready for this one. I've prepared myself for this one. I trained a long time dancing because I don't need much more than that to beat Chavez Jr up. This is good enough to break his face in a thousand pieces. It will not be an easy knockout. I will punish him a lot, and then after that, I will knock him out. He will suffer a lot. I hope that somebody in your corner, the doctor, your team, your management -- be sure that they stop the fight. Because I will never stop. I will continue punishing you."

"I never was a puppet of my promoter. ... I want to fight the best. Not like Junior. I want no optional defense. I want what the people want. You're not supposed to take this fight. It will be very painful for you. I will do it for the Argentinean people, all the Latino people, all the Mexican people that support me. Because you never respect the sport, it's going to be painful for you."

Chavez Jr.:

"I'm very happy that the fight is getting very close. Martinez is a liar. Barker and Macklin were not the best challengers. They were picked by his promoter."

"Honestly, everybody knows him. He's a liar. I've seen him on the tapes when he's been knocked out or knocked down, and his eyes are white. He looked pretty good. I don't know how he's going to beat me. ... He only talks bullshit and says he's the best fighter, but in the fight, he runs and runs. He doesn't fight for the people. He doesn't fight for the sport."

"On 24/7, I saw one thing. He said it was very difficult to keep Kelly Pavlik off of him. This Saturday he's going to have me in front of him and all over him."

"I'm not only going to beat you, I'm going to retire you. This Saturday, I'm going to retire you from boxing."

Bad Left Hook has many more quotes and notes from today's presser.

After Long Matchmaking Saga, Canelo And Chavez Jr. Cards Go Head-To-Head Despite Everyone's Best Interest

The story of the circumstances that led to Canelo Alvarez vs. Josesito Lopez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Sergio Martinez taking place on the same night on competing networks.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez Fight Purses: Chavez Jr. $3 Million, Martinez $1.5 Million

In the world of boxing, big fights mean big money. And this Saturday night, when Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez enter the ring to face off on HBO pay-per-view will be no different. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has released purse figures for the bout and Chavez will be making $3,000,000 for the fight while Martinez will rake in $1,500,000.

That may seem backward as Martinez is the far more accomplished fighter, a player at the championship level since 2008 with huge wins over Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams and has been a fixture in the top five of the pound-for-pound rakings for several years.

But the guy bringing the serious money from the fans for this fight isn't Martinez, it's Chavez. Sure, a good portion of that is due to his father's accomplishments and name, but Jr. is a superstar that the Mexican fanbase cares deeply about. And, in all honesty, this is a bigger fight than Martinez could have gotten anywhere else. This is a case where Chavez is the bigger attraction and is the one giving Martinez the big fight, so he makes the bigger bucks.

Scott Christ over at Bad Left Hook explains just how big of a fight this is for both men, but especially Martinez:

If Sergio wins, it will be the biggest win of his career. I know Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik were more respected fighters, and I'm fine saying, if it goes as many expect on Saturday with Sergio winning the fight, that those would still be the best wins of his career. But this fight with Jr can make him a star. This is a big fight, and don't let anyone tell you differently. This is about as big as a fight on US soil gets without involving Floyd or Manny.

For more on this fight, continue to follow us here on SB Nation as well as our boxing blog, Bad Left Hook.

Chavez Jr. Vs. Martinez: HBO Video Preview

A video preview of the battle between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez.