By Dan Ambrose: WBC Diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO’s) had been be coming into his fight against WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-0-1, 32 KO’s) looking knockout on September 15th, because I’m afraid it might be extremely difficult for Martinez to be given a decision in this fight.

Chavez Jr., 26, is the more popular fighter, will have the crowd in his favor, and he’s the guy that brings in big money to boxing. When you factor in Chavez Jr’s importance to the sport, perhaps do to having a popular father Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, it puts Martinez in a very tough situation where he may need a knockout if he wants to ensure that he gets his hand raised at the end of the fight.

I’d like to think that Martinez can win the fight by decision if it comes to that, but I really don’t think he will. Chavez Jr. is kind of at the level where he’s hard to beat by a decision, kind of like the way Manny Pacquiao is hard to beat in that manner. I do believe that Martinez can win a decision over Chavez Jr., but I think it will require at least three to four knockdowns in order for that to happen. I believe the judges are going to score rounds for Chavez Jr just based on his constant pressure even if it’s not necessarily effective pressure. If Chavez Jr. is taking head shots over and over again as he moves forward like he always does, I see the judges still focusing on what he does when he finally does get close enough to land one or two solid shots to Martinez’s body.

I’m hoping that Chavez Jr. doesn’t win a tainted decision because it will be really bad for the sport, but that’s how I see it going down. Chavez Jr is the star in this fight, and Martinez just another challenger.