http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/players/sebastian_zbik/143515 Recent articles about Sebastian Zbik en-us My worst memory as a fighter came against Matt Vanda in July 2008 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. I had a very difficult time in the ring. It was very hot all week and I started getting sick the day before the weigh-in and never fully recuperated after the weigh-in. I had a fever the night before the fight, but I went through with it and the last two rounds were the most difficult time I had in the ring. I could barely walk and was just standing up because of my pride and my heart. I threw up in the ring after the fight and had a fever. My best memory is winning the world middleweight championship. It was my dream to become a world champion. That's why I decided to become a professional fighter. Beating Sebastian Zbik in Los Angeles in June 2011 to become the middleweight champion is something that I will never forget -- and for so many reasons. Not many people believed that I could do it and that inspired me. The select few who did believe in me encouraged me and sacrificed for me. And to win the title Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:01:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/memory_lane_julio_cesar_chavez_jr/11523178 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/memory_lane_julio_cesar_chavez_jr/11523178 Memory Lane: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/memory_lane_julio_cesar_chavez_jr/11523178 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/d/eddccff38f87bfde1241cbc7b47040d4d171262a/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f1785174.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1935BBE657AC86A9648CEE09B8ABF97C852.jpg Chavez Jr - Maravilla Fight Preview The most hotly awaited middleweight fight of 2012 is scheduled as a September 15th PPV event in Las Vegas, as people's champ and divisional top dog Sergio Martinez defends his crown against (fake) WBC champ Julio Chavez, Jr. While Martinez has nothing to prove in fighting Chavez, Jr., having the WBC strap stripped from his waist on the flimsiest of pretexts so as to benefit Chavez, Jr. had to rankle him, and he is clearly looking for payback. For Chavez, the road to full legitimacy as a champion runs right through Martinez. Rounding the picture off, these are the #1 and #2 middleweights in the world right now, and both guys love action. This is not a fight to be missed! Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (46-0-1, 32 KOs) 6'0" tall, 73" reach, 26 years old Mexican Current (fake) WBC Middleweight Champion Credit: Ed Diller - DBE I list Chavez first, as his championship claim is the product of a typically dubious, Sulaiman-in... Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:42:20 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_sergio_martinez_preview_prediction/11332969 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_sergio_martinez_preview_prediction/11332969 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs. Sergio Martinez preview & prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_sergio_martinez_preview_prediction/11332969 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/1/51e8cc6775ef7ae160107b6e1071610627726ba6/mini/Tyler_Ziolowski_v_41b5.jpg Saturday night, from El Paso, Texas, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31 KOs) looks to strengthen his claim on the title of best middleweight not named Sergio Martinez. Chavez faces Andy Lee (28-1, 20 KOs), who is on a 13-fight winning streak that includes avenging his lone loss as a pro (a knockout defeat to Brian Vera in 2008). The knock on Chavez has always been that he is more about his father's famous name and riding the coattails thereof than being a champion in his own right. His WBC middleweight strap around his waist is essentially stolen property, fenced via Jose Sulaiman after the heist that removed it from Sergio Martinez. Even with that, however, you still have to clobber the guys in front of you, and Chavez has defended the belt twice since winning it from Sebastian Zbik last year, first against Peter Manfredo Jr. and then against Marco Antonio Rubio in his last fight. While those guys are not exactly Bernard Hopkins and Carlos Monzon in terms of level of opposition at 160 pounds, they are Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:09:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chavez_aims_to_prove_himself_vs_lee/11023244 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chavez_aims_to_prove_himself_vs_lee/11023244 Chavez aims to prove himself vs. Lee http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/chavez_aims_to_prove_himself_vs_lee/11023244 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/7/c760caa7feb4469e8b0813dd2847ae12cc79df12/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f55882250.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193268B03E3DD5E0E099D930B07FF42B7E3.jpg On Saturday night in El Paso, Texas, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr will defend his trinket against once-beaten Andy Lee from Ireland. How he will face Lee after already going through the murderer’s row of Marco Antonio Rubio, Peter Manfredo Jr, Sebastian Zbik, and Billy Lyell is anyone’s guess. I actually like this fight.  This will be our first time seeing [...] Thu, 14 Jun 2012 01:57:00 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_pops_his_tough_opposition_cherry_against_andy_lee_saturday_night/11009480 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_pops_his_tough_opposition_cherry_against_andy_lee_saturday_night/11009480 Julio Cesar Chavez Jr Pops His Tough-Opposition-Cherry Against Andy Lee Saturday Night http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/julio_cesar_chavez_jr_pops_his_tough_opposition_cherry_against_andy_lee_saturday_night/11009480 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/d/eddccff38f87bfde1241cbc7b47040d4d171262a/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f1785174.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF1935BBE657AC86A9648CEE09B8ABF97C852.jpg HBO Boxing has put together a video of the greatest hits and highlights of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He's been fighting on the network for quite some time, and has been in the spotlight for even longer beyond that. It has only been recently where the competition has been beginning to step up and improve, but so far, JCC Jr. has been up to the challenge. Below, find the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. highlights video from HBO. The video is about six minutes long and it includes highlights from a number of JCC Jr's fights. You'll see him doing his best against Sebastian Zbik, Marco Antonio Rubio and Peter Manfredo Jr., amongst others. The Marco Antonio Rubio fight and win was his best performance to date, coming against his toughest opponent. Next up, of course, is Andy Lee, where he'll be put to the test once again, and we'll have to see whether or not he has enough to pass. In the meantime, enjoy the highlight video of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr's greatest hits. Sun, 27 May 2012 11:06:10 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/video_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_greatest_hits/10883432 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/video_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_greatest_hits/10883432 Video: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr greatest hits http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/video_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_greatest_hits/10883432 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76025c36885c1de401280a330fbb95c63d90f98c/mini/Chavez_V_Parisi_1d79.jpg There were several big cards last night for fight fans to enjoy, including ESPN's Friday Night Fights, headlined by the Michael Katsidis vs. Albert Mensah fight. Mensah upset the combeacking Katsidis and won a majority decision in their 10 round clash. In Germany, Felix Sturm defended his title against Sebastian Zbik. Take a look at the results round-up right here. Katsidis vs. Mensah Mensah improves to 20-3-1 with 7 KOs, as he took home a majority decision against the more active and aggressive Katsidis. The scorecards read 98-92 and 96-94 in his favor, with the third judge scoring it even 95-95. Katsidis drops to 28-6. He had been looking at the fight as a gauge for himself to see how much he had left - and he may not like what he learned. Retirement might be around the corner for Katsidis now. In the co-feature, Artemio Reyes was defeated by Alain Sanchez, a fighter he had previously defeated. Sanchez scored a huge, and surprising, 1st round KO. Reyes falls to 15-2, and Sanc... Sat, 14 Apr 2012 11:28:33 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/katsidis_loses_to_mensah_on_fnf_sturm_defeats_zbik_by_tko/10556236 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/katsidis_loses_to_mensah_on_fnf_sturm_defeats_zbik_by_tko/10556236 Katsidis loses to Mensah on FNF; Sturm defeats Zbik by TKO http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/katsidis_loses_to_mensah_on_fnf_sturm_defeats_zbik_by_tko/10556236 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Felix Sturm (37-2-2) retained his middleweight title with an impressive win over Sebastian Zbik (30-2) when Zbik’s corner threw in the towel at the conclusion of the 9th round. The opening rounds saw some decent back-and-forth with Sturm playing tight defense and working behind the jab while Zbik was more aggressive with combinations and some nice right hands down the middle. From the 4th round onward, Sturm took over. He was doubling and tripling up on the jab and began landing uppercuts and power shots that left Zbik a bruised and helpless mess by the end of the night. Zbik has a ton of heart, but with very little power and presumably facing a massive deficit on the scorecards, his corner made the right call in sparing him from any further punishment. Through nine, I had the fight 89-83 for Sturm, 7-1-1 in rounds. Sturm looked very sharp and this performance to some degree helps erase his previous two relatively lackluster ones: a controversial decision win over Matthew Macklin la... Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:11:55 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/felix_sturm_stops_sebastian_zbik_but_what_next/10553644 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/felix_sturm_stops_sebastian_zbik_but_what_next/10553644 Felix Sturm Stops Sebastian Zbik, But What Next? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/felix_sturm_stops_sebastian_zbik_but_what_next/10553644 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/05d822230df64adbdec8d586b0a92e3d48cccae8/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f83527350.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF19315DD66DBF896C6F3FA00F1CC6AEC26E5.jpg WBA middleweight titlist, Felix Sturm (37-2-2, 16 KOs) made the 12th consecutive defense of his title, beating former WBC middleweight titlist, Sebastian Zbik (30-2, 10 KOs) via RTD 9. Sturm, now 14-2-2 in three separate reigns as a world titlist, took little over a round to decipher the stiff, predictable style of his opponent and then assumed full control by the third round. Zbik did what he usually does, work behind a solid jab and sound fundamentals, but he lacked the flexibility to make adjustments when Sturm adapted. With lesions over and under the left eye and likely well behind on the scorecards (down 6 rounds to 2 on the unofficial Boxing Tribune scorecard), Zbik's corner waved off the contest before the start of the ninth round. On the undercard, Russian heavyweight Denis Boystov (31-0, 25 KOs) scored a one-sided unanimous decision over journeyman, Dominick Guinn (33-9-1, 22 KOs) by scores of 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:46:38 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sturm_stops_zbik_to_defend_title/10552705 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sturm_stops_zbik_to_defend_title/10552705 Sturm stops Zbik to defend title http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/sturm_stops_zbik_to_defend_title/10552705 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/5/05d822230df64adbdec8d586b0a92e3d48cccae8/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f83527350.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF19315DD66DBF896C6F3FA00F1CC6AEC26E5.jpg Felix Sturm retained the WBA middleweight title on Friday night after fellow German Sebastian Zbik retired before the 10th round at the Lanxess Arena. Zbik made the better start but appeared to tire midway through the bout, as the defending champion looked fresher despite taking some heavy blows. Sturm had Zbik clearly troubled at the end of the ninth round, with American referee Raul Caiz Sr. asking the challenger if he could continue. Though the 30-year-old Zbik insisted that he could, his corner felt otherwise and Caiz ended the fight before the next round could start. The 33-year-old Sturm successfully defended his title for the 12th time and improved his record to 37-2-2 with 16 knockouts. Zbik drops to 30-2 (10 KOs). Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:13:15 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sturm_beats_zbik_to_defend_wba_belt/10552558 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sturm_beats_zbik_to_defend_wba_belt/10552558 Sturm beats Zbik to defend WBA belt http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/sturm_beats_zbik_to_defend_wba_belt/10552558 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/0/902433f4af437b90afc550191575b5c9246b930e/mini/Felix_Sturm_v_ae78.jpg According to representatives from both camps, WBC middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (45-0-1, 31 KOs) and Ireland's Andy Lee (28-1, 20 KOs) have come to terms for a June 16 bout at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas. Chavez, The Boxing Tribune's third ranked middleweight in the world, is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Marco Antonio Rubio in February. The second-generation star won his title in 2011 from Sebastian Zbik amid controversy following the WBC's stripping of lineal champ Sergio Martinez weeks prior. Since the unanimous decision over Zbik, Chavez has defended the belt twice -- stopping Peter Manfredo Jr. in five rounds and then taking the decision over Rubio. Slowly earning respect and recognition, Chavez has developed nicely under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, but will be taking a considerable step up in competition against Lee. Lee, trained by Emanuel Steward, is ranked 12th in the world by The Boxing Tribune and is coming into the Chavez bout following a s Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:47:21 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chavez_lee_come_to_terms_fo_june_16/10474381 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/chavez_lee_come_to_terms_fo_june_16/10474381 Chavez, Lee come to terms fo June 16 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/chavez_lee_come_to_terms_fo_june_16/10474381 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/6/76025c36885c1de401280a330fbb95c63d90f98c/mini/Chavez_V_Parisi_1d79.jpg Boxing lost one of its greats this week, as everyone knows by now. Angelo Dundee, who died at age 90, was one of the best few trainers ever to grace the game, and he did it all on as big a stage as you can manage, namely training Muhammad Ali. Others have already written or spoken eloquently about what Dundee meant to boxing (Jeremy Schapp's segment on ESPN was really something), but the one thing I keep going back to is this moment:In the Sonny Liston fight, when Ali began having trouble seeing because of a foreign substance that got into his eyes, Ali tried to quit -- he begged Dundee to cut his gloves off. Dundee refused to do it. He told Ali to get out there and run away for a while. Ali eventually won, of course. The Liston win is the one that made Ali Ali. One of the things that made the Ali-Dundee relationship interesting is that Dundee usually just let Ali be Ali; Ali "the boxer" made a ton of technical mistakes, but it worked for him, so Dundee went with it, a... Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:34:11 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/quick_jabs_rest_in_peace_angelo_dundee_the_new_technology_tonight_on_hbo_more/9768799 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/quick_jabs_rest_in_peace_angelo_dundee_the_new_technology_tonight_on_hbo_more/9768799 Quick Jabs: Rest In Peace, Angelo Dundee; The New Technology Tonight On HBO; More http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/quick_jabs_rest_in_peace_angelo_dundee_the_new_technology_tonight_on_hbo_more/9768799 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png When Sergio Martinez stepped in for Kelly Pavlik as a late replacement opponent for Paul Williams in December 2009, he impressed in a controversial losing effort that many thought he won. In only two appearances on HBO, Martinez was an unlucky 0-1-1 (the draw against Kermit Cintron being the result of an atrocious job by referee Frank Santore Jr.), but he was asked back the following April as an opponent for the aforementioned Pavlik, then the Ring/WBO/WBC middleweight champion. The former soccer player-turned cyclist-turned professional boxer bloodied Pavlik to become the recognized middleweight champion of the world. Martinez, who toiled away in obscurity for most of his career, was thrust into the spotlight. But without a large and loyal fan base to follow him around the country, Martinez and his handlers opted to leave his career in the trembling hands of HBO executives. With the right moves, Lou DiBella, with the aid of his old pals at HBO, could have turned Martinez into a big attraction. The Sergio M Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:43:31 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sergio_martinez_a_cautionary_tale/9261557 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/sergio_martinez_a_cautionary_tale/9261557 Sergio Martinez: A cautionary tale http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/sergio_martinez_a_cautionary_tale/9261557 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Credit: DBE In a surprise move, WBC honcho Jose Sulaiman announced that Sergio Gabriel Martinez has been made a mandatory challenger for WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. for 2012. In another shocker, the WBC also stated that as of December 29, the organization had not received formal notice of Chavez, Jr.'s title defense against Marco Antonio Rubio, currently slated for February 4. In the wake of this news, one can only speculate if the Chavez clan hasn't done something to upset Sulaiman. Perhaps Chavez, Sr. forgot to send his longtime buddy Sulaiman a Christmas present? It was roughly one year ago that the WBC stripped Sergio Martinez of the title on the flimsiest of pretexts, and then tried to cover up the misdeed by naming him "Diamond Champion." The title was then given to Sebastian Zbik (who was the "interim" champion at the time), who in turn was fed to Chavez, Jr. The whole charade was obviously orchestrated to clear the way for... Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:36:57 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wbc_says_chavez_jr_must_fight_martinez_in_2012/9022870 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/wbc_says_chavez_jr_must_fight_martinez_in_2012/9022870 WBC Says Chavez, Jr. Must Fight Martinez in 2012 http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/wbc_says_chavez_jr_must_fight_martinez_in_2012/9022870 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/5/1/51e8cc6775ef7ae160107b6e1071610627726ba6/mini/Tyler_Ziolowski_v_41b5.jpg I've never been one to openly criticize the sanctioning bodies much. I’ve always felt that there are so many others out there who do more than enough of it for me. It’s almost as if I’ve become immune to all of the questionable acts that they do. At this point, nothing seems to surprises me any more.   There has been one questionable act by one of the sanctioning bodies however, that has been very hard to let go unnoticed, and that sanctioning body is none other than the WBC.   Sergio Martinez was once their world middleweight champion only to have that title stripped from him for not facing the organization’s number one ranked mandatory challenger Sebastian Zbik, therefore leaving the title vacant. Martinez had every intention of facing Zbik, but for some odd reason, HBO, the network that Martinez regularly fights on, would not accept the fight. Martinez then had to look for another opponent that HBO deemed suitable, and that opponent ended up being former WBO Junior Middleweight Champion Serhi Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:00:00 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/should_martinez_forget_about_the_wbc_and_go_after_one_of_the_other_world_titles/8996284 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/should_martinez_forget_about_the_wbc_and_go_after_one_of_the_other_world_titles/8996284 Should Martinez Forget About The WBC And Go After One Of The Other World Titles? http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/should_martinez_forget_about_the_wbc_and_go_after_one_of_the_other_world_titles/8996284 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/0/9/09602f073e5511bf40144fa5aa97dc19c536ac55/mini/BOX_CONFE_MARTINEZ_b11c.jpg For the second time in 2011, HBO is airing Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. and Saul Alvarez in close proximity on the calendar, with the idea that the two presposterously popular young Mexicans will eventually get in the kind of physical proximity that can be confined by a 20-foot ring in what would be one of the biggest-money fights in boxing. This Saturday it's Chavez; next weekend it's Alvarez. The network pulled a similar trick in June, and if all goes according to plan, these will be the last pre-fight fights for the pair.The opponents -- Peter Manfredo, Jr. and Kermit Cintron, respectively -- are feasible, if not frightening, threats to the prospects of Chavez vs. Alvarez, and they share a history of having fought on NBC in a time when boxing hasn't had much exposure on the big four networks. Manfredo is a step down in competition for Chavez, who got quite the unexpected scare in his last fight against Sebastian Zbik. Manfredo is an earnest middleweight, can box a little a... Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:47:12 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_set_up_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_peter_manfredo_jr_preview_and_prediction/8173462 http://network.yardbarker.com/boxing/article_external/the_set_up_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_peter_manfredo_jr_preview_and_prediction/8173462 The Set-Up: Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. Vs. Peter Manfredo, Jr. Preview And Prediction http://www.yardbarker.com/boxing/articles/the_set_up_julio_cesar_chavez_jr_vs_peter_manfredo_jr_preview_and_prediction/8173462 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/c/7/c760caa7feb4469e8b0813dd2847ae12cc79df12/mini/GettyImageProxy.ashx_requestUrl_http_3a_2f_2fcache.gettyimages.com_2fxc_2f55882250.jpg_3fv_3d1_26c_3dEWSAsset_26k_3d2_26d_3d17A4AD9FDB9CF193268B03E3DD5E0E099D930B07FF42B7E3.jpg