YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul is still reeling from the betrayal of Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez. But that doesn’t mean the Cleveland native is running short on potential suitors for his excursions in the ring. Former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the legendary boxer with the same name, had previously thrown his name in the hat for a fight against Paul.
After struggling to defeat Uriah Hall in July last year, Chavez Jr. is on the lookout to make the biggest fight possible that can propel him back into the limelight. Just last year, after ‘The Problem Child’ defeated legendary Mike Tyson in what turned out to be a lackluster fight, but a successful event in Arlington, Chavez Jr. attempted to coax Paul into the ring with him.
“You say you can fight anyone, which is probably true because of the money. But you won’t fight someone who knows how to box, like Julio César Chávez Jr. It’s time, Jake,” Chavez Jr. wrote on social media. While this post went unnoticed by Paul for a while, when he did see it, ‘The Problem Child’ was less than enthusiastic about making it a reality.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 22: Julio César Chávez Jr. attends Logan Paul Workout Showcase at Wild Card Boxing Club on October 22, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
“I want someone tougher than Chavez. I want a real belt, not something that is just put on for entertainment. It’s great and all that, but honestly, he’s easy work and I want someone tougher to shut people up,” Paul said during an interview with Fight Hype. Fast forward to today, one of Chavez Jr.’s trainers, Charles Huerta, was asked about a potential fight between them.
“I would love for that fight to happen,” trainer Huerta said. “It’s the biggest fight out there for Jake Paul right now. I think for [Jake Paul] to get credibility, if he can go out there and beat a Chavez Jr., people will probably respect him a lot more.” Huerta also felt it would be a great opportunity for Chavez Jr. to get his name out there. But the question is, can the 39-year-old beat Paul?
“I think he beats Jake Paul. I think we school Jake Paul and outpoint him if it happens,” Huerta said during the interview. Regardless of whether Chavez Jr. can beat Paul or not, the 28-year-old would get the opportunity to fulfill his ambition if he fights the son of the boxing legend.
WBA is open to making Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. a title fight
According to a July 2024 report from Boxing Scene, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza claimed the WBA is open to sanctioning a world title fight between Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Paul has previously expressed his ambition to win a world championship, and Mendoza hinted at the possibility, writing on X. “I am not against a Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for a championship.”
Jake Paul | via Imago
While Chavez is a former world champion, he hasn’t competed at the elite level in years. Paul, meanwhile, has yet to defeat a ranked boxer. A title fight between them seems unusual, as both are currently outside the WBA’s top 15 rankings. However, Paul’s victory over Mike Tyson and the pay-per-view pull he brings to the table could provide some momentum for the fight.
That said, Jake Paul is not getting the Canelo Alvarez fight anytime soon, as ‘Cinnamon’ has signed a four-fight deal with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh after leaving Paul in a tailspin. In the meantime, Paul could take Chavez Jr. for an opponent, but whether he will do it is yet to be seen. Do you think Jake Paul should fight Chavez Jr?
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