Photos by: Chris Farina/Top Rank
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Sergio Martinez will finally get in the ring on September 15. The first of a four city, two-nation international media tour, kicked off today in Los Angeles.
This is what the parties involved had to say….
“Julio César Chávez Jr. versus Sergio Martinez is one of the premier and most anticipated matchups in boxing today,” said Mark Taffet of HBO Pay-Per-View. “It has all the makings of an extraordinary event — major league boxing skill in the ring; a spirited rivalry that has simmered for years; the fast-rising new star versus the elite warrior; enthusiastic fan bases; and a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. It will be an evening that every fight fan will want to experience live on HBO Pay-Per-View.”
“This is the fight I’ve always wanted,” said Chávez Jr. “Martinez has said a lot of bad things. Let’s see if he wants to go to the center of the ring and fight like a man.”
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to headline a live pay-per-view event in Las Vegas and to be able to take back what is rightfully mine, and that is the WBC middleweight championship belt,” said Martinez. “We have been working very hard with my team through the years for this moment and I will make sure to leave Las Vegas September 15th as the winner. Chavez Jr. has shown some improvement in his last fight, but that will not be enough to defeat me September 15th.”
“This is the big fight that the boxing world has been clamoring for such a long time,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. Julio César Chávez Jr., after his latest victory, is ready to go. He will make all Méxicans proud, just like his father used to do.”
“This is one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing, between Julio César Chávez Jr., a terrific young champion and the son of a legend, and Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez, one of the great pound-for-pound fighters in the world. This is a fight for both middleweight supremacy and pound-for-pound status,” said Martinez promoter Lou DiBella.
“We are pleased to be part of such a monumental match-up between two talented fighters,” said Alex Pariente, executive vice president of international and domestic marketing for Wynn Las Vegas. “The long-anticipated championship fight between Martinez and Chávez on Mexican Independence Day will add to the celebration of the holiday and the history of the storied middleweight title that includes greats such as Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony Zale, Carlos Monzon and Marvelous Marvin Hagler.”
Chávez Jr. vs. Martinez will take place Saturday, September 15, at the Thomas & Mack Center, on the campus of the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. It will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
