Perhaps what Eddie Hearn said pretty much backs up the subdued narrative that has come to surround Jake Paul‘s next fight. On June 28, the YouTuber-turned-boxer will meet former middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Since the loss to Canelo Alvarez, the son of boxing great Julio Cesar Chavez has had a patchy run. Now 39 years old, fans recognize him more for fighting former UFC fighters and indiscretions outside the ring.
Despite lining up against a fighter who’s still a decade older than him, Jake Paul doesn’t seem to have met the kind of umbrage that he faced previously. The knockout wins over Andre August or Ryan Bourland invited scathing criticism. Then the clash with 58-year-old Mike Tyson caused much uproar. But this time around, the atmosphere appears more somber. Perhaps fans had already pieced it together – the kind of fighter Jake Paul would fight next. Or, as Eddie Hearn surmised, Chavez Jr. could be the perfect foil for boxing’s self-proclaimed disruptor.
Eddie Hearn: Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.; On paper, this is as even as it gets
“I think he’s a good pick for Jake Paul,” The Matchroom boss minced no words as he interacted with reporters. “You know, I’m looking forward to Chavez against Jake Paul,” Hearn said initially. To set the record straight, the English promoter acknowledged the kind of challenges Chavez Jr. had been through both within and without the ring.
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“I think he’s not obviously a world-class fighter anymore,” he said before reflecting, “but he’s not terrible.” According to Eddie Hearn, if Chavez Jr. undergoes a good fight camp, then there’s a good chance he could be ‘competitive.’
This is not the first time Hearn has offered his support to the Paul-Chavez matchup. Last month, while speaking with Ariel Helwani and Ade Oladipo, the promoter revealed that he would prefer the fight to the one that took place last November between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Of course there’s a reason why Jake Paul deliberates over his matchups, Hearn pointed out.
“Unless Jake makes loads of money, he’s not gonna take any substantial risks. He’s very calculated,” he highlighted. Chavez Jr. suffered a loss to Anderson Silva, whom Paul defeated three years ago. However, he’s quite popular in Mexico. “I think the fight would do quite well. I don’t think he’s horrendous, Chavez…if he can just get himself in some kind of shape and condition, it could at least be competitive. But, size, youth, it’s a good bit of matchmaking. Not awful,” he concluded.
After the enormously successful event three years ago, Jake Paul and Eddie Hearn will team up once again for the Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor trilogy fight at the historic Madison Square Garden on July 11.
Chavez Jr., navigating a complicated legacy
Given the fact that his matchups are always under scrutiny, perhaps Jake Paul must have done some introspection and settled on someone like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Strictly speaking, Chavez Jr.’s world turned topsy-turvy when he lost the middleweight title to Sergio Martinez a decade ago.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 06: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (L) punches Canelo Alvarez during their catchweight bout at T-Mobile Arena on May 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Omar Vega/LatinContent via Getty Images)
Thereafter, a series of losses, the most significant of which was the one inflicted by Canelo, followed. Additionally, his career witnessed long absences. After the Canelo fight, it took him over two years to return and face Evert Bravo. History repeated itself when he went for a three-year break after a ten-round win over an unheralded David Zegarra.
The loss to Anderson Silva left several fans shocked. But Chavez Jr.’s unanimous win over Uriah Hall didn’t enthuse them either. Recent footage suggests that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has been preparing hard for the upcoming fight.
So if that’s true, then fans can look forward to an intriguing clash. Something they often miss in Jake Paul fights?
What about you? Do you agree with Eddie Hearn’s verdict of the Paul-Chavez matchup?
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