By Gerardo Granados: On June 4th, at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California, undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (42-0-1, 30 KO’s) will face interim WBC middleweight champion Sebastian Zbik (30-0, 10 KO’s). Chavez Jr. has a formidable chance to become champion for one reason – it is that the authentic WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez was promoted to the level of “emeritus champion,” leaving vacant his well earned belt. Problem for Chavez Jr. is that Zbik won’t be an easy rival as he is used to be spoon feed. So he better be prepared for a war for the full twelve rounds.

A controversial victory against journeyman Matt Vanda in 2008 resulted in scandal for both junior and his father. When the decision of local fight judges was announced, many of the ones who filled the boxing arena thought that the decision was wrong booing and throwing objects into the ring even Chavez Sr challenged to fight a couple of fans who were booing his son. Beware of a local decision in favor of Chavez Jr. against Zbik because he will be fighting like if he was in his hometown. But if the fight was to take place in Germany, Chavez Jr. would have the same worries as Zbik must have now in their fight in Los Angeles.

Zbik has never fight in America, so he won’t have many supporters in Los Angeles California, where Chavez Jr. will be like home and perhaps could be benefited by a local decision by the judges if the fight is close. Many times we all have seen how fighters are protected so Zbik better be prepared to win convincingly otherwise he could end up drawing or even worst losing by split decision if the fight is close.

Zbik has the tools to defeat Chavez Jr., who indeed has improved a lot with trainer Freddie Roach. But he will never reach the skill level of his legendary father from whom he inherited his steel chin. Chavez Jr. is used to being the bigger man against the majority of the rivals. Many of his opponents that Chavez Jr. has faced were shorter in size, height and reach. However, Zbik is the same size of Chavez Jr. if not a little bigger. He has good chin and good defensive skills, moves well and is enough experienced, but lacks of power to stop junior. Chavez Jr. does not have enough power to stop Zbik; He has average defensive skills and gets hit a lot. If Roach is able to teach Chavez Jr. how to take advantage of his reach and how to slip the punches he might get his fighter a clear win but it wont be an easy task against the smart German who will explode all of his rival weakness.

If the fight is close it will be the fight judges duty to determine who the winner is, so under the 10 point must system a winner will be announced and the result might not be the one that the spectators wanted to hear. It would be good if both fighters had more power to avoid any controversy but it seems that it will be up to the fight judges to decide who will be the winner and crowned as the new WBC middleweight champion.

Promoters should wait until Chavez Jr. defeat Zbik, and not allow rumors that he could fight Miguel Angel Cotto next. It is like if a decision was already made.

So who do you pick as a clear winner, Chavez Jr. or Sebastian Zbik?