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The WBC says that they've been informed that both parties have signed an agreement for a September fight, and after a year of excuses, delays, and backburner placement, it looks for now as though Sergio Martinez and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr will have their fight.
To be clear, this is not a contract. This is just some form of, I don't know, gentleman's agreement or the like. Frankly this is all just talk for now. At this point, pretty much everything to do with this topic is "just talk" in my book, but maybe, just maybe, we're really going to get the fight that Martinez wants and that a lot of boxing fans have been clamoring for.
First, Chavez must successfully defend his title on June 16 against Andy Lee in El Paso, live on HBO. That's not a gimme fight by any means, though it seems most are favoring Chavez going into the fight.
Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KO) is coming off of a stoppage win on March 17 over Matthew Macklin, while Chavez (45-0-1, 31 KO) last fought on February 4, beating Marco Antonio Rubio by decision.
It's a fight I don't think is necessary, but it is without question, I believe, a fight people want. Martinez vs Chavez isn't Martinez against the most deserving challenger, but it's against the division's biggest money man, and it has been demanded.
There were plans to bring Chavez back on September 15, but that is probably out the window now that Canelo Alvarez has firm plans to return on PPV that night, possibly against James Kirkland. And before anyone asks, no, they will not be sharing a bill.