Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Reported To Be Jake Paul’s Next Opponent
Jake Paul has certainly made waves in the boxing ring since turning professional back in 2020. The Problem Child has steadily built up an 11-1 record inside the squared circle, making tens of millions of dollars in the process. However, the only time he fought a true out-and-out active boxer was also the only time he suffered a defeat.
That of course came at the hands of Tommy Fury back in 2023. Despite knocking down former WBC heavyweight champion Tyson’s younger brother, the judges still awarded the Brit a narrow split decision victory. The loss hurt Paul’s stock as his career had been built on the fact that he could actually go toe-to-toe with decent-level fighters. The one time he did, he suffered his first and only defeat.
Now, if reports are to be believed, Paul will be getting back into the ring shortly with another actual boxer, albeit one far past his best.
Marca Breaks News of Potential Fight
Just a couple of months ago, a stunning fight between current undisputed super-middleweight champion and box office powerhouses Canelo Alvarez and Jake Paul was rumored to be near an agreement. Ultimately, the Mexican was swayed by the money on offer in Saudi Arabia and backed out at the last minute. Now, it appears there is a new opponent in line for the younger Paul brother.
An April 7th article by popular Spanish media outlet Marca reported that the 28-year-old is in talks to fight with Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. If the rumors are to be believed, it will be El Gallo’s first fight since outpointing a 58-year-old Mike Tyson back in November in perhaps the most anticipated fight of 2024. The bout was watched by millions of households worldwide on streaming giant Netflix, and it is unclear as to whether this upcoming potential clash will be broadcast by the streaming company also.
Jake Paul’s Record Thus Far
That recent clash against Tyson was the culmination of Paul’s career thus far. He has made it into the mainstream by fighting and beating some of the biggest names in the fight game, even though they were long past their best. A first-round knockout of loud-mouthed former UFC fighter Ben Askren led many to believe that The Problem Child was a force to be reckoned with, as did back-to-back victories over former UFC welterweight champion Tyrone Woodley.
A unanimous decision win against a 47-year-old version of Anderson Silva – who was fresh off of upsetting Chavez Jr. it has to be said – helped his stock grow. Then, that loss to the first true boxer he faced Tommy Fury seemingly had Paul exposed. As such, he went back to the tried and tested formula.
Nate Diaz was the next in line, a man who betting sites thought had a decent chance of emerging victorious. Websites allowing one to bet on UFC in Canada made Stockton’s finest a +110 underdog for his final Octagon clash against Tony Ferguson in September 2022, and he duly walked away with the victory. For his fight against Paul, those same oddsmakers made him a narrow outsider once more, but unfortunately, this time, it was his younger opponent that reigned supreme. It’s always a mixed bag when you bet on UFC matches!
Further victories followed against MMA fighter Mike Perry and finally Mike Tyson. Now, it seems that Chavez Jr. is next in line.
Who is Julio Cesar Chavez Jr?
The 39-year-old is the son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., a man who famously went unbeaten throughout his first 90 fights before a shock loss to Frankie Randall in 1994. Junior is a decent fighter in his own right, winning the WBC middleweight championship with a majority decision victory over unheralded German Sebastian Zbik back in 2011. He successfully defended three times, with marquee stoppage victories against Peter Manfredo Jr. and Andy Lee.
Those wins propelled Chavez Jr. to superstardom, with many wondering if he could live up to his father’s name. His September 2012 unification clash with Sergio Martinez drew hundreds of thousands of pay-per-view buys. However, that clash would have a disappointing conclusion.
The Argentinian boxer battered Chavez Jr. from pillar to post for 11 rounds, although the Mexican did have his opponent on the ground in the 12th and looked for the stoppage victory. Ultimately, it never came, and Chavez lost his title via a wide unanimous decision. He would never be the same again.
He met Canelo Alvarez in a blockbuster encounter in 2017 that garnered plenty of attention. But it was clear even then that he was flagging, and it was the current super middleweight king that emerged with a resounding decision victory. Further losses to the likes of Daniel Jacobs piled up before that stunning upset to an aged version of former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva signaled that Chavez’s best days were behind him as well.
At the age of 39, it remains to be seen how much the Mexican has left in his tank. For Paul, the contest could be argued as somewhat of a step up, fighting a former boxing champion who’s on the younger side of 40, but not everyone will see it that way.
