After failing to secure high-profile bouts with Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta `Tank` Davis, Jake Paul has opted to face former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Their match is scheduled for June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Following his recent victory over 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, which broke viewership records, Paul initially aimed for a fight with Canelo, a major figure in boxing.
Instead, he will compete against Chavez, a fighter who has previously lost to Canelo. Chavez, aged 39 and a former WBC middleweight titleholder, has faced challenges in recent years, including periods of inactivity, weight issues, and a positive drug test.
`I just beat the toughest man on the planet, and now I`m taking on a former champion that Canelo couldn`t knock out,` Paul stated to ESPN on Friday.
Despite Chavez`s record of 8 wins and 6 losses since 2012, he remains a recognizable name, partly due to being the son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, and represents a step up in competition for Paul due to his boxing background.
Some may criticize Paul for choosing another former champion past his prime. However, this fight makes sense for Paul`s boxing journey, which began professionally in 2020 with minimal amateur experience. Considering his limited experience compared to established boxers, facing Chavez is a reasonable progression. Typically, boxers at Paul`s stage would face even less experienced opponents.
Paul`s fame is a double-edged sword in his boxing career, bringing intense public scrutiny with each fight announcement. The demand for him to fight a `real boxer` often overlooks the fact that a truly experienced boxer would likely defeat him.
That`s simply not how boxing development works.
Paul`s opponents need to balance name recognition and marketability with a level of experience and current skill that matches his own. This often results in Paul facing either inexperienced, less skilled fighters or older, declining fighters. Chavez falls into the latter category. However, Chavez still possesses significant power, even with inconsistent training. Approaching 40, Chavez remains capable, with a strong chin and a powerful left hook. If he trains seriously, Chavez could be a dangerous opponent, offering both offensive threat and solid defense against Paul`s favored overhand right.
For Paul`s benefit, he should hope for a motivated Chavez to appear in the ring on June 28 and deliver a challenging fight. While it might not silence all critics, it will contribute to Paul`s growth as a boxer. Conversely, if Chavez arrives unprepared, the criticism will be fully justified.