Jake Paul, the YouTuber turned boxer, has announced Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as his next opponent. The announcement came shortly after Paul revealed his upcoming media fight with Mike Tyson.
Paul's choice of opponents has drawn criticism from various quarters. The 'Problem Child' has only faced someone his own age once - Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia last February. Paul lost that fight by split decision.
Logan Paul, Jake's brother, defended the choice of Chavez Jr., calling him "a dangerous opponent because he is a real boxer." However, others weren't as impressed.
Former UFC fighter Michael Bisping didn't mince words when discussing Paul's latest opponent selection.
"That's why I don't respect Jake Paul as a boxer. It's not that I'm jealous of his money or anything like that (...) Jake Paul is not a real boxer. He makes up the situation for fights and opponents that he knows he can win, like this new one with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Well, the guy is almost 40."
Bisping's criticism didn't stop there. He called Paul "a pathetic individual" and accused him of carefully selecting opponents he's confident he can beat.
Chavez Jr., the son of legendary boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, has had a rocky career. Despite early promise, he's struggled with addictions and a difficult temperament. At nearly 40 years old, many believe he has little left to offer in the ring.
Bisping pointed out Chavez Jr.'s recent losses and issues:
"(Chavez Jr.) was beaten by Anderson Silva, he's had substance issues and things like that, I think, in the past, and he's got some losses on his record. He's almost 40 years old, okay? And he's not his father. This is another situation that Jake Paul has looked at; it's calculated. Yes, he has to work hard, yes, he has to train hard, but he probably knows he can beat this guy."
Social media hasn't been kind to Paul either. The announcement revived a popular meme suggesting Paul might next challenge "100-year-old Jimmy Carter."
Despite the criticism, Paul continues to maintain his narrative of a serious boxing future. His strategy of choosing beatable opponents while claiming to take on real challenges has worked so far in terms of generating interest and revenue. It remains to be seen how long this approach will keep fans engaged.
