Memory Lane: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

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 only a few blocks from the old Olympic where my father won his first world title, well, that made it even more special for me. My father and I will always be linked together because we won our first world championship belts in the same city.

It is a feeling that will stay with me forever. To hear the ring announcer say, "The winner and new . . . " That is something I will never forget. That is something I never want to forget. Of course, I now like hearing the ring announcer say, "The winner, and still . . .  "

And that’s exactly what he will say in the ring on Sept. 15 after my fight with Sergio Martinez ends.

"2 Days: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr." and "Face Off With Max Kellerman: Chavez Jr./Martinez" debut on HBO back-to-back Saturday, Aug. 25, at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT and 12:45 a.m. ET/PT, respectively.

The Chavez Jr.-Martinez bout on Saturday, Sept. 15, will be televised live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.