Jake Paul will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28th in Anaheim.
Jake Paul hopes to add another scalp to his resume with a win over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. later this month.
Paul has been criticized for choosing Chavez as his opponent, with the Mexican having been a career middle and super middleweight now fighting at cruiserweight.
Chavez has also fought just once in four years, against a 1-0 fighter.
Despite this, Paul recalls a time when Chavez was intimidating, when the pair first met over six years ago.
Jake Paul met Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. before his pro debut
Paul began boxing with a win over fellow YouTuber, AnEsonGib, in 2020, but it was even before that that Paul first met Chavez Jr.
In an interview with DAZN, Paul recalled meeting Chavez, who quit against Andrzej Fonfara, when he first began boxing:
“This was one of the first boxing gyms I actually came into, and actually the first time I saw Julio Cesar Chavez about six years ago.”
“I was like, all tiny and small, no beard, and they were like ‘This guy’s a champion. He’s the best,’ and now I’m going to kill him.”
Six years ago, Paul was still a year out from his pro debut, whilst Chavez Jr. was 51-3-1. It was six years ago too that Chavez quit against Daniel Jacobs.
Since then, Paul, who retired 75% of his opponents, has racked up a record of 11-1, whilst Chavez Jr. boasts a record of 54-6-1.
Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. praised Jake Paul ahead of clash with his son
In an interview with Seconds Out, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. spoke on his son’s fight with Paul:
“I think everyone has a second chance in life. My son has had it really tough in the past but I have never seen him so focused as he is going in to this fight. If he goes in that focused, there is no doubt in my mind that he beats Jake Paul.”
“Any fighter has a chance going into a fight. Jake Paul is a strong fighter, he hits hard, he’s young, and he does have an opportunity going into this fight but I believe my son will get the job done.”