Chavez Jr vs Martinez Video: HBO Face Off with Max Kellerman

HBO's Face Off feature with interviewer Max Kellerman is kind of corny, what with the intense music and the fact that this sort of thing always runs the risk of being corny, and has always been kind of hit-or-miss. Sometimes it's enjoyable. Sometimes it's not.

[ Chavez Jr vs Martinez Full Coverage ]

Personally, I've liked the Face Off features for Klitschko vs Haye, Cotto vs Margarito II, and even the outrageous performance of Bernard Hopkins for his rematch against Jean Pascal. In other words, when there's at least some personal feeling -- actual personal feeling, some level of real grudge and guys coming to prove something major -- I'm on board. When there's not (Pacquiao-Bradley, Mayweather-Ortiz/Cotto, etc), it just seems flat to me.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Sergio Martinez have been going at each other in press conferences and the like since their September 15 fight has been announced. It's not really "bad blood" or a personal rivalry so much as something that's brewing that sort of reaction between them. It keeps progressing into an actual feud. Martinez has promised to beat Chavez up to the point his father won't recognize him. Chavez says he'll show Martinez, and the world, that he's not just the son of a great fighter.

This is a major league fight for these guys, and it feels like something oddly personal for a lot of fight fans as well. Sergio is representing the people who still don't believe Chavez is anything more than a hype job living off of his father's name. Across the ring, Chavez Jr is representing his people, who either have always believed in him, or have come around and accepted that he's a real fighter, who has picked up his game to match that promotional push.

I think we're in for a great fight on September 15, and I'm not trying to sell you anything. I really, really believe this is going to be special.