Jake Paul (11-1) will face the most experience boxer of his career on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. “The Problem Child” takes on former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1).
Paul is coming of a decision win over former heavyweight titleholder Mike Tyson last November. Chavez Jr. last fought in July 2024, defeating Uriah Hall via unanimous decision. Prior to the Hall bout, Chavez Jr. hadn’t fought in nearly three years.
Looking at Paul as a boxing, Chavez Jr. doesn’t see anything especial but does consider influencer-turned-boxer a ‘real fighter.’
“I respect all the fighters in general but I don’t have nothing significant to respect Jake like a good fighter. He’s a real fighter. I think so. He’s a fighter now. He has 11 fights but that’s it. It’s nothing special. He’s strong. That’s it,” Chavez Jr. said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
Chavez Jr. isn’t just going out there to beat Jake Paul. He wants to end Paul’s boxing career.
“I’m still thinking that I’m better than Jake, so I think after this fight maybe Jake continues to fight. I don’t know. Try to be a best boxer but I don’t think he has the skills and everything for winning that fight,” Chavez Jr. said. “Yes, I want to end Jake Paul’s career. I want to end it.”
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At 39, Chavez Jr. isn’t the same fighter he used to be but believes he’s still good enough to beat Paul. He also wants a tougher opponent next.
“I want to put clear that I’m still here. I’m not old and I take this sport serious. Train hard, be disciplined. I’m 39. I don’t think I’m old,” he said. “I still feel good in the gym. So I want to prove that I’m still here, I’m still a good fighter. I want to fight better opposition after this fight and that’s why I took this fight.”
Chavez Jr. has taken his preperation seriously, trained hard and stayed disciplined. He’s been sober for 20 months and wants to use a win over Paul to springboard to better things.
“I’m in shape and I’m focused,” Chavez Jr. said. “I’m disciplined. I’m focused. I want to finish the fight and win and take this opportunity to be back in the real boxing. That’s my goal.”
