Finally, Jake Paul may have found an opponent! Is it a reigning prime champion? Nope, doesn’t look like it. If reports are to be believed, ‘The Problem Child’ appears to have zeroed in on none other than former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., the son of the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez. And the internet can’t get enough of it, with reactions pouring in over the rumored matchup.
On November 15 last year at AT&T Stadium, Jake Paul defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson. The event proved a commercial hit. However, their bout drew criticism due to the glaring age gap and concerns over Tyson’s health. Chavez Jr., meanwhile, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations tied to his father’s legacy. His last loss came not to a boxer, but to a former UFC champion. He returned to the ring last year and managed a win, again against a former MMA fighter. However, his personal struggles and inconsistent performances have left many fans skeptical. Judging by the comments online, most aren’t giving the 39-year-old much of a shot.
It looks like Jake Paul’s next bout is coming together!
Citing information from Mike Coppinger and Ring Magazine, combat sports outlet @HappyPunch posted, “Jake Paul is taking on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight fight this summer 👀 An official announcement is expected tomorrow.”
Speculation around Jake Paul’s next opponent has been swirling for months. Hype, and a healthy dose of doubt, peaked when news broke of a potential matchup with Canelo Alvarez. But that fizzled quickly, as the Mexican superstar chose to stick with ‘real fighters,’ signing a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season.
Not one to be left out of the conversation, Jake also went as far as calling out Anthony Joshua. Incidentally, on the originally scheduled July 20 Paul-Tyson card, Chavez Jr. had a fight scheduled against MMA fighter Darren Till. But he eventually ended up facing Uriah Hall on the rescheduled November show. He won the six-round fight via unanimous decision.
But fans, many of whom have long hoped to see Jake Paul take on a prime boxer or legitimate contender, didn’t sound too amused by the latest development. Let’s take a look at what some of them had to say.
But it’s just rinse and repeat at this point
One fan poked fun at Jake Paul’s history of picking older or less competitive opponents. They remarked, “Is this guy like allergic to actual competitive fights or what?” Jake Paul’s tendency to face aging fighters or crossover athletes, rather than top-tier or up-and-coming boxing talent, often gives the impression that he prioritizes safe wins and spectacle over genuine sporting challenges.
The mockery continued. Another fan quipped, “His dad would be a better match for Jake than Jr. 😂.” To some boxing diehards, that might not sound entirely absurd. Given Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.’s legendary status and accomplishments, even at 62, the notion of Paul struggling with the elder Chavez might resonate more than it should.
Concerns ran deeper, too. “Didn’t one of the owners of the 4 major sanctioning bodies say he would put a belt on the line for this? 💀 We’re cooked [if] Jake Paul is a world champion,” said this fan. The idea that a YouTuber-turned-boxer could capture a legitimate world title continues to stir fears among purists. They see it as a marker of the sport’s ongoing credibility crisis.
The Chavez Sr. vs. Jr. theme persisted. “At least it’s Jr.—knowing Jake, it could have been against Sr. 😂.” Given that his last bout was against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, critics suggest Jake Paul’s matchmaking once again skirts true competition. Chavez Jr., despite being just 39, isn’t much of a step up, especially when compared to elite-level contenders.
Amid the swipes, one fan offered a more balanced perspective on the proposed matchup. They said, “Decent fight and good guy to put on the record, although he’s old and lost to Anderson Silva. Regardless, we know Jake’s level of boxing, and for his level, it’s a decent fight.” Chavez Jr., while far from his peak and coming off losses, including one to Silva, whom Jake Paul later defeated, is still a somewhat credible opponent, considering Paul’s limited pro resume.
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