A top combat sports promoter has made his feelings known about Jake Paul’s next professional boxing match, a fight against Julio César Chávez Jr The promoter suggested that it was a better matchup than Paul’s previous fight, a clash against the then-58-year-old “Iron” Mike Tyson last year.
Top Promoter’s Assessment of Jake Paul’s Upcoming Boxing Match Against Julio César Chávez Jr.
YouTuber-cum-boxer Jake Paul is regarded by many as a polarizing personality in the boxing and broader combat sports realms. His critics often indicate that, since his pro boxing debut in 2020, he’s primarily boxed against fighters who are well past their athletic prime, part-time boxers, and/or at a significant size disadvantage against him.
Many detractors highlight that the only time he fought someone his around size and age, U.K. boxer Tommy Fury, he ended up losing. To this day, Paul’s points defeat against Fury in 2023 is the lone loss of his pro boxing career. “El Gallo de Dorado” last competed against and outpointed former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in Nov. 2024. Presently, the 28-year-old is set to box against the 39-year-old Julio César Chávez Jr.
During a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Matchroom Boxing head honcho Eddie Hearn was asked about the upcoming Paul vs. Chávez Jr. boxing match. Hearn responded by stating, “I mean, I prefer it to the Mike Tyson one … I think that unless Jake makes loads of money, he’s not gonna take any substantial risks. So he’s very calculated. You know, Chávez [Jr.], didn’t he lose to [Anderson Silva]? Yeah — so, who Jake beat.”
Alluding that Chávez lost to Silva, who lost to Paul, Hearn added, “But I get it. Like, obviously, he [Chávez Jr.] is quite well-known in Mexico. I think the fight will do quite well. I don’t think he’s horrendous, Chávez [Jr.]. I mean, if he can just get himself in some kind of shape and condition, it could at least be competitive. But yeah, size, youth — it’s a good bit of matchmaking.” [5:11-minute mark of the interview video below]
The Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. cruiserweight pro boxing match is scheduled to headline a Most Valuable Promotions-helmed boxing card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., U.S.A., on June 28, 2025.
Akin to Hearn, certain sections of the boxing community have speculated that Chavez Jr. — who’s a former WBC Middleweight Champion and the son of Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez Sr. — does have a chance at beating Paul. Nevertheless, he hasn’t competed as frequently as his American counterpart in recent years.
Taking to Instagram, Chávez Jr. issued a warning to Paul, which read, “Jake Paul – YOU DON’T play Box I am not some youtuber or UFC fighter or beating up old retired Boxers! I am a real Former Boxing World Champion and June 28 you will find out what it is like to be in with real Mexican style!! Viva Mexico.”
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