Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. will return to professional boxing for the first time in almost a year in June 2025.
Taking on internet star Jake Paul, the son of one of the greatest Mexican fighters of all time will aim to return to boxing with an upset victory.
With his last bout coming in July 2025, a win over former UFC fighter Uriah Hall would leave Chavez Jr.’s record at 54-6-1. However, he will aim to get his 55th win when he takes on Paul in California.
Should he lose, it would be the seventh defeat of his career. To taste defeat for the first time, it took Chavez Jr. 48 fights.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was defeated for the first time by Sergio Martinez in 2012
After Chavez Jr. knocked out Andy Lee to retain his world middleweight title, he would be paired up with Sergio Martinez three months later.
Argentine Martinez went into the world title fight with a 49-2-2 record. Martinez was previously the holder of Chavez Jr.’s WBC title. However, he was stripped in 2011.
The two would meet in Las Vegas in September 2012, with Chavez Jr. looking to defend his title for the fourth time. When the fight would end, however, he would no longer be champion.
Despite Martinez being knocked down and having a late scare in the 12th round of the fight, it was a mostly one-sided performance from the challenger. The judges all scored the contest to the Argentine, winning by wide margins.
The defeat was the first of Chavez Jr.’s career, as his record was 46-1-1 after the bout.
Martinez would suffer just one more defeat in his career, losing to Miguel Cotto in 2014. He retired in 2023 with a professional record of 57-3-2.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would not fight for another world title after first defeat
Despite having such an impressive professional record at the time of his first loss, the Mexican would not be granted another world title opportunity. For the remainder of his career, Chavez Jr. would have sporadic form.
Chavez Jr. bounced back from his first professional loss with a duo of victories over Brian Vera. This would then be followed by his first stoppage loss to Andrzej Fonfara.
Picking up another two wins, Chavez Jr. would find himself in an all-Mexican affair with Canelo Alvarez. However, Alvarez would defeat his fellow countryman via unanimous decision.
In the final seven fights of his career, Chavez Jr. would have a record of 4-3 as he prepares for his bout with Paul.