Influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul outpointed Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, who looked lost and refused to fight back for most of the cruiserweight contest in California, before calling out some of the sport’s biggest names.
Chavez barely threw a punch in the early rounds. His father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, looked deflated and irate at the ringside.
Chavez Jr, the 39-year-old former middleweight world champion, became a sitting duck behind a high guard as Paul, 28, controlled the fight with jabs and hooks to the head and body.
American Paul, who outpointed a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in November, was awarded a unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92.
He cupped his ears as jeers rained down from the sold-out Honda Centre in Anaheim.
“All the boos are words, but actions speak louder than words,” Paul said, telling the crowd to “shut up”, with some expletives.
“It was flawless. I think I only got hit 10 times,” he added. “He’s been in with [Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez] and all those guys, and I embarrassed him like that. Easy work.”
The victory raises familiar questions about the level of Paul’s opponents and his place in professional boxing. The Chavez who stepped into the ring was a far cry from the Mexican who won a world title over a decade ago.
It was the same Chavez who lost in 2021 to 46-year-old former UFC star Anderson Silva, whom Paul defeated a year later. It was Chavez who has struggled with discipline and motivation for large parts of his career.
Paul, who rose to fame on social media, has now won 12 pro fights, with his sole loss coming to Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul said he is ready to challenge WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez or WBC belt-holder Badou Jack.
While boxing purists view a title shot as the culmination of years of relentless hard work, dedication and climbing the ranks, it is not entirely far-fetched to imagine Paul landing one.
Both the WBA and WBC have hinted they could soon include him in their rankings, opening the door to a possible shot at a world title.
After his seventh loss in 61 professional bouts, Chavez (left) said he plans to continue boxing.
Paul dominates as Chavez shows little fight.
A tense Chavez took deep, steadying breaths before being serenaded to the ring by a mariachi band. Meanwhile, Paul danced with his brother Logan in the dressing room, carrying that energy into his ring walk.
Chavez boxed on the back foot as Paul connected with body shots in the first round. He was already a shadow of the fighter who won a world title in 2011, stopped Irishman Andy Lee a decade ago and went the distance with superstar Alvarez in 2017.
Chavez’s corner urged him to “let his hands go”, but he stared vacantly into the distance. Plagued by weight struggles, substance abuse and a lack of motivation in the past, he showed little fight.
The boos grew louder as he did nothing to silence critics who claimed he was simply there for a payday.
Chavez Sr looked distraught, throwing his hands in the air, desperately urging his son to find his fire.
Paul has clearly improved since his loss to Fury, showing a crisper jab and higher work rate. But when he selects ageing fighters like Chavez and Tyson, who refuse to fight back, it is easier to showcase those improvements.
Chavez’s best moments came in the ninth round when he landed an uppercut and right hook. He walked back to his corner, celebrating as if he had won the fight, hands raised.
He took the final round with some power punches but seemed resigned to defeat at the bell.
Paul was congratulated by his opponent’s father, three-weight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Sr (right)
What’s next for Paul?
Paul said he wants “tougher fighters”, but his callouts often ignore weight classes.
He outrageously named former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and lightweight world champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis as possible opponents.
Earlier this week, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said Paul could be considered for a ranking if he beat Chavez. Under WBC rules, a fighter must be inside the top 15 to qualify for a world title shot.
For context, British champion Viddal Riley ranks 15th, while Team GB Olympian Cheavon Clarke is 19th.
Should Ohio’s Paul be ranked above them? Sporting logic says no. But in today’s boxing landscape, it is not impossible.
Paul has also suggested the WBA may rank him. The WBA considers fight history, activity and competition level when ranking fighters.
To his credit, Paul has brought a new audience to boxing, supported women fighters through his Most Valuable Promotions and shown a serious commitment to training. But that alone does not justify a world title shot.
To earn genuine respect in boxing, he must move beyond faded names and former MMA stars. Wins over Chavez and Tyson may boost his brand, but they do little for his credibility in the ring.
The problem for the self-proclaimed ‘Problem Child, ‘ however, is that stepping in with an active, legitimately ranked fighter is when the wheels are likely to come off.
