By Rafael Soto

Culiacan, Sinaloa - Middleweight contender Ronald Hearns believes that his career is at stake when he challenges unbeaten WBC champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on September 17 in Mexico. The son of boxing legend Thomas Hearns, is coming off a February seven round knockout loss to WBA champion Felix Sturm.

Hearns (26-2, 20KOs) wants to prove that he deserves this second title chance. He knows a loss in a championship fight would spell the end of his title run, with a third title opportunity being a very unlikely possibility. Chavez Jr. (43-0-1, 30 KOs) is making the first defense of the title that he won in June.

"I feel it will be an exciting fight, because you have a fight between the sons of two boxers who left their mark in the sport. This will be a historic battle. To become a champion, it doesn't matter where you fight, but how you fight. And I'm preparing very hard, because I want to change the minds of some people who say I don't deserve this opportunity," said Hearns.

"I have learned that training is the foundation for success, and for that reason I have dedicated my body and soul to working hard, because I don't think that there is going to be a third time."