Chavez Jr. looks to become star like father

LAS VEGAS— He’s the son of a great champion, and for most of his career that’s about all Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was known for.

Now he’s a star in his own right, headlining a big Mexican Independence Day weekend fight card just like his father used to do in his prime. Unlike his father, though, the jury is still out on just how good of a fighter Chavez Jr. really is.

That figures to change Saturday night when Chavez takes on Sergio Martinez, the fighter generally recognized as the best middleweight in the world, in a 160-pound title fight full of intriguing possibilities. It’s a big step up for the son of the great champion Julio Cesar Chavez, who still struggles with the comparisons to his father.