Martinez says he will knock Chavez out

Sergio Martinez has promised a knockout when he steps into the ring against the reigning WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

The two are set to clash on September 15  at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, in what is one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year.

The build-up has been fraught throughout with heated exchanges between the pair, as they vie to prove who the best in the 160lb weight category is.

Argentine Martinez goes into the bout regarded as one of the very best pound-for-pound fighters in the world having beaten most of the top names in the middleweight division, including a knockout of British star Darren Barker last year.

Now the man dubbed 'Marvellous' has added even more fuel to the fire by vowing to knockout a man whom he regards as living of the name of his father, and the greatest Mexican fighter of all time, Julio Cesar Chavez.

"He doesn't deserve to be a world champion. He got there by his name and being the son of the legend. His mouth is bigger than his brain. He's been talking too much and that is what really set me off," said Martinez.

"He'll be fighting the best, but it doesn't matter if he's had the best training camp of his career. He's going to get knocked out anyway. I'm one of the best pound for pound.

"I believe that I am number two at this moment. That's why I'll win. I don't really know what to look for, but I just know that I'm better than him," he added.

Martinez believes that the impending clash will prove categorically who the best in the division is.

"I'll be recognised as the real middleweight champion. Most people already know, but Chavez Jr has a title that I'll be taking on September 15. I not only want the title, but I want to take it from Chavez Jr," he added.

Despite the fact he is undefeated and already a world champion, question marks have been placed over the 26-year-old Chavez Jr but this is something he has grown used to.

"I can't change who I am, but I think I have proven myself over time. I have done this on my own and I have my own story now. I'm facing one of the best in the world right now and that alone should show what I'm all about. A champion must face the best and beat the best," he said.

"My strength will be one of the keys in this fight, but it won't be all of it. You'll see a complete boxer and some things from me that you've never seen. He (Martinez) fights differently and moves around. I have the strategy to beat him and you'll see it on the 15th. I've done lots of good work in sparring with guys who are tougher than Martinez. I can't tell you now, but you'll see some great things from me," Chavez Jr stated.

Irish ace Matt Macklin, who fought Martinez earlier this year, is also set to appear on the bill as he takes on former world champion Joseph Alcine from Canada.