‘A huge step’ – Jake Paul could land huge world title clash with two-division champion if he wins next fight
Jake Paul could move one step closer to his world title dreams if he defeats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June. YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul faces Chavez Jr in California for what will be his toughest test yet in the squared circle. Oscar de la Hoya has backed Paul to fight for a world title if he beats Chavez JrGetty Chavez Jr has just one fight since 2021, and is a far cry from his heyday in the sport when he fought and lost to names like Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs. However, the 39-year-old Mexican is a former world champion, winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 by stopping Peter Manfredo. Paul vs Chavez Jr will also see cruiserweight star Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez defend his WBO world title against Yuniel Dorticos in a mouth-watering chief support bout. The event at Anaheim’s Honda Center is being promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, alongside former six-weight world champion Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. Speaking to Chris Mannix, De La Hoya explained how Paul could become ‘the real deal’ through a victory over Chavez, while hinting at a world title fight for his subsequent bout. He believes that if Paul and Ramirez come out on top in their respective fights, then the former would be in a great position to fight the latter for a world title next. “I commend Jake Paul for what he’s done from the start [and] how serious he takes boxing inside the ring,” De La Hoya said. “When he trains… this guy is probably the hardest worker in the game today. He has to prove himself from the back of the bunch and work himself up, and that’s exactly what he’s doing. “Now, he’s fighting Julio Cesar Chavez who is a real fighter – he’s been a world champion. Canelo [Alvarez] couldn’t knock him out! “I am banking on if Jake Paul knocks out Julio Cesar Chavez – what are we doing?! Jake Paul, I feel, is the real deal, and I’m not just saying that because we’re working together and we’ve teamed up. Paul boasts a pro record of 11-1Getty But he lost his first real challenge in the ring to Tommy Fury in February 2023Getty “I feel that Jake Paul beating Chavev Jr is a huge step towards that world title that he wants and it’s not far-fetched.” De la Hoya confirmed that there have been ‘no talks’ between Paul’s and Ramirez’s camps yet, but seemed confident that a statement performance from the self-proclaimed ‘Problem Child’ would put him in good stead for a title shot. Ramirez currently holds both the WBA (super) and WBO cruiserweight titles, having previously held the WBO super middleweight title from 2016 to 2019. However, de la Hoya also asserted that for now Paul is solely focused on Chavez Jr, as it is his ‘first real, real test’ in the sport of boxing. Paul last stepped foot in the ring for a blockbuster bout against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November. The heavyweight boxing icon looked, unsurprisingly, a shadow of his former terrifying self, as he failed to land any significant punches in a bout both men walked away tens of millions richer. Jake Paul's last 5 fights Defeated Mike Tyson via unanimous decision in November 2024 Defeated Mike Perry via TKO in July 2024 Defeated Ryan Bourland via TKO in March 2024 Defeated Andre August via KO in December 2023 Defeated Nate Diaz via unanimous decision in August 2023 Over 60 million tuned in to watch Paul vs Tyson on Netflix last NovemberGetty Paul has amassed a record of 11-1 in his now beloved sport, with his only defeat coming against Briton Tommy Fury in 2023. Chavez Jr, on the other hand, has won 54 of his 61 fights, and although he was badly beaten by Canelo in their 2017 bout, he still went the distance with the pound-for-pound star. His last appearance against a world-level fighter came in 2019, where he was forced to quit on the stool against Jacobs. He has since mixed it up with former UFC champion Anderson Silva in 2021, and most recently another MMA star in Uriah Hall last year. That was his last outing, which came on the undercard of Paul’s clash with Mike Perry last year. He outpointed Hall in dominant fashion, and does have natural talent as a boxer. Chavez Jr is a former world champion, but he has fought just once since 2021GETTY
Jake Paul could move one step closer to his world title dreams if he defeats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in June.
YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul faces Chavez Jr in California for what will be his toughest test yet in the squared circle.
Chavez Jr has just one fight since 2021, and is a far cry from his heyday in the sport when he fought and lost to names like Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Daniel Jacobs.
However, the 39-year-old Mexican is a former world champion, winning the WBC middleweight title in 2011 by stopping Peter Manfredo.
Paul vs Chavez Jr will also see cruiserweight star Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez defend his WBO world title against Yuniel Dorticos in a mouth-watering chief support bout.
The event at Anaheim’s Honda Center is being promoted by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions, alongside former six-weight world champion Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
Speaking to Chris Mannix, De La Hoya explained how Paul could become ‘the real deal’ through a victory over Chavez, while hinting at a world title fight for his subsequent bout.
He believes that if Paul and Ramirez come out on top in their respective fights, then the former would be in a great position to fight the latter for a world title next.
“I commend Jake Paul for what he’s done from the start [and] how serious he takes boxing inside the ring,” De La Hoya said.
“When he trains… this guy is probably the hardest worker in the game today. He has to prove himself from the back of the bunch and work himself up, and that’s exactly what he’s doing.
“Now, he’s fighting Julio Cesar Chavez who is a real fighter – he’s been a world champion. Canelo [Alvarez] couldn’t knock him out!
“I am banking on if Jake Paul knocks out Julio Cesar Chavez – what are we doing?! Jake Paul, I feel, is the real deal, and I’m not just saying that because we’re working together and we’ve teamed up.
“I feel that Jake Paul beating Chavev Jr is a huge step towards that world title that he wants and it’s not far-fetched.”
De la Hoya confirmed that there have been ‘no talks’ between Paul’s and Ramirez’s camps yet, but seemed confident that a statement performance from the self-proclaimed ‘Problem Child’ would put him in good stead for a title shot.
Ramirez currently holds both the WBA (super) and WBO cruiserweight titles, having previously held the WBO super middleweight title from 2016 to 2019.
However, de la Hoya also asserted that for now Paul is solely focused on Chavez Jr, as it is his ‘first real, real test’ in the sport of boxing.
Paul last stepped foot in the ring for a blockbuster bout against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November.
The heavyweight boxing icon looked, unsurprisingly, a shadow of his former terrifying self, as he failed to land any significant punches in a bout both men walked away tens of millions richer.
Jake Paul's last 5 fights
- Defeated Mike Tyson via unanimous decision in November 2024
- Defeated Mike Perry via TKO in July 2024
- Defeated Ryan Bourland via TKO in March 2024
- Defeated Andre August via KO in December 2023
- Defeated Nate Diaz via unanimous decision in August 2023
Paul has amassed a record of 11-1 in his now beloved sport, with his only defeat coming against Briton Tommy Fury in 2023.
Chavez Jr, on the other hand, has won 54 of his 61 fights, and although he was badly beaten by Canelo in their 2017 bout, he still went the distance with the pound-for-pound star.
His last appearance against a world-level fighter came in 2019, where he was forced to quit on the stool against Jacobs.
He has since mixed it up with former UFC champion Anderson Silva in 2021, and most recently another MMA star in Uriah Hall last year.
That was his last outing, which came on the undercard of Paul’s clash with Mike Perry last year.
He outpointed Hall in dominant fashion, and does have natural talent as a boxer.
