Paul started boxing professionally in 2020, stopping Ali Eson Gib in the first round of his debut fight in Miami. Since then, he's faced some big names, including MMA legends Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz.
His first big test came against Tommy Fury, where he suffered his first defeat. But Paul bounced back in a big way, beating retired heavyweight icon Mike Tyson by unanimous decision last November at AT&T; Stadium in Texas. The fight drew massive attention and proved Paul could hang with a boxing legend.
Now, Paul's got his sights set on becoming a legitimate world champion. He's taking on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, in the cruiserweight division.
De La Hoya, who had a stellar boxing career himself, thinks Paul's got what it takes. In a recent interview, he said:
"I think Jake Paul is such a genius in luring in Canelo that he had Canelo actually talk about Jake Paul so that's a genius move from him. I think that Jake is doing the right moves for his career and I strongly feel that he is serious about boxing for the first time. I feel that Jake Paul has a real, real shot at winning a world title."
De La Hoya's words carry weight in the boxing world. He's seen Paul's dedication to the sport and his strategic career moves. The former champ even praised Paul's ability to get Canelo Alvarez talking about him, calling it a "genius move."
Paul's journey from YouTuber to professional boxer has been controversial, to say the least. But as he continues to face tougher opponents and show improvement, more people in the boxing world are starting to take him seriously.
With 12 fights under his belt and a notable win over Mike Tyson, Paul's proving he's in this for the long haul. His upcoming fight against Chavez Jr will be another test of his skills and determination.
Whether you love him or hate him, Jake Paul's making waves in the boxing world. And if Oscar De La Hoya's right, we might just see him with a world title belt around his waist someday.