Jake Paul has announced his next fight will be against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Jake Paul is coming off a win over an aged Mike Tyson, elevating his record to 11-1. His sole loss came by split decision to Tommy Fury.
Paul has announced his return, a co-promotional event with Oscar De La Hoya‘s Golden Boy Promotions which will see Paul take on 54-6-1 Chavez Jr, son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez.
Though his record implies Paul will have a tough night against a seasoned veteran, there are a few factors that are worth pointing out that may contribute to the fight being easier than expected for Paul.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was beaten by 1-1 UFC legend
Chavez Jr. is nearing the age of 40, and has fought just once since 2021 when he gained a win over 1-0 former UFC fighter Uriah Hall on the undercard of Jake Paul vs Mike Perry.
Before that, Chavez Jr. had lost in 2021 to Anderson Silva in an 8-rounder that went to a split decision. Silva, who Paul has already beaten, had just two boxing matches before defeating the former world champion.
Chavez Jr. defeated Andy Lee in defense of his middleweight world title, which he won in 2011 against Sebastian Zbik. His fight with Paul will be held at cruiserweight.
Chavez Jr. has faced some world-class opposition, which would provide valuable experience he could use against Paul, though he has fallen short on every occasion at this higher level, losing a shutout decision to Canelo in 2017, and quitting in his corner after five rounds against Daniel Jacobs in 2019.
Despite his impressive record, a mixture of age, inactivity, and recent poor form, as well as previous issues outside of the ring with substances, it seems Chavez Jr. may not be the feared opponent Paul might make him out to be.
Paul recently called out Anthony Joshua for a fight next year. It remains to be seen if this will happen.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. defeated the man who retired his father
In 2005, 29-6-1 Grover Wiley stopped 107-5-2 Julio Cesar Chavez in what would be the final fight of his career.
It was just two years later that Wiley, who was on a three-fight losing streak, would meet Chavez Jr. who sought to avenge his father’s defeat.
Chavez Jr. punished Wiley, stopping him in just the third round. Wiley finished his career with a record of 30-12-1, and of his seven stoppage losses, only one came earlier than Chavez Jr.’s.
Many fighters have called out Paul, including Mairis Briedis, who called Paul out with a tattoo and diss track. Though he may not be the greatest choice, Paul is still facing a seasoned boxer, and it’s sure to draw an audience.