Jake Paul is getting ready to face his toughest opponent yet. The influencer-turned-boxer will step into the ring with former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday, June 28th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Most Valuable Promotions and Golden Boy have joined forces to put on this event. It's a big step up for Paul, who's aiming to prove himself as a serious contender in the boxing world.
The co-main event will see a unified championship bout. Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, who holds the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, will defend against Yuniel Dorticós. The Cuban challenger is a former IBF and WBA cruiserweight world champion himself and comes in as the WBA's mandatory challenger.
Paul has been busy drumming up interest in the fight. He posted a video on Instagram that shows him punching a Tesla Cybertruck in a parking lot. The truck explodes, and Paul falls down. Fans had mixed reactions, with some joking about the truck and others predicting the outcome of the fight.
Paul's boxing journey has had its ups and downs. He lost a split decision to Tommy Fury but bounced back with a win over Nate Diaz. He's also scored stoppage victories against a couple of club fighters. After this fight, he's got Mike Tyson lined up.
Though he started as an influencer, Paul has put in serious work with legitimate coaches and sparring partners. He's got natural athleticism and often has a size advantage. An expert from MMA Mania, Andrew Richardson, broke down Paul's style:
"Historically, Paul ensures he's the bigger man with the larger reach. He capitalizes on that range advantage with an active and pretty quick jab. In general, he does a nice job of pumping his lead shoulder to hide that strike. He doubles and triples the jab up well, often targeting the body."
On the other side of the ring, Chavez Jr. brings a wealth of experience. He's the son of legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez and boasts a 54-6-1 record. His last fight was almost a year ago, a victory over former UFC fighter Uriah Hall.
For Chavez Jr., this fight marks his return to professional boxing. He'll be trying to avoid the seventh defeat of his career against the younger, less experienced Paul.
This matchup has got fight fans talking. Will Paul's athleticism and recent training be enough to overcome Chavez Jr.'s experience? Or will the former world champion prove too much for the YouTube star? We'll find out on June 28th in Anaheim.
