Former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. admits there is heavy pressure to look impressive against MMA legend Anderson Silva.

The 45-year-old Silva, who spent most of his MMA career with the UFC, has very little experience in boxing.

Silva has only had two boxing matches, going 1-1, with the last one taking place in 2005.

Their fight will take place on June 19 at the Jalisco Stadium in Mexico. 

The card will also see his father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, face Hector Camacho Jr. in an exhibition. And younger brother Omar Chavez will take part in a trilogy fight with Ramon Alvarez, the older brother of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.

Because of his age and lack of boxing experience in boxing, Chavez Jr. is a big favorite to walk away with his hand raised. Their bout is scheduled for 10 rounds.

"I respect Anderson Silva because he is a great martial arts fighter, he is a legend, and it was a surprise [that he took this fight] because I never thought he would come to boxing," said Chavez Jr.

“These are two different sports [boxing and MMA], although the training is similar. It is a risk for those [MMA fighters] who are going to switch to boxing, although I know that he has already boxed, he must know what he is going to do.

“He is an intelligent person, it will be a difficult test, he does not have an easy style, for me it is a double-edged sword, because so many people believe that a person from the UFC cannot [do much with] a boxer, and that [opinion] goes against me. I have to win by any means necessary, because supposedly [MMA fighters] don't know how to box."