By Jhonny Gonzalez
Trainer Freddie Roach is very happy with the technical improvements of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. On Saturday night in Culiacan, Mexico, Chavez will face Billy Lyell in a fight that is likely going to prelude a showdown with WBC champion Sebastian Zbik in May. After that, Chavez would look for a possible fight with the recognized champion at 160-pounds, Sergio Martinez. Roach would like to see that fight at the end of the year. He feels Chavez has a very good shot to win.
"Martinez has said he wants to fight with Manny Pacquiao but Pacquiao is too small for him. I'd like to see him fight Chavez and I think Julio would have a good chance of winning. Martinez is a great athlete but not a great fighter. He has weaknesses," said Roach.
Chavez would like the opportunity to fight Martinez.
"Of course I would like to face Martinez. I would like to fight the best in the world and I'm prepared for that. But for now, I think that I need to win the fight on Saturday because I think it's going to open a lot of doors for me in my career," Chavez said.