Jake Paul, the 28-year-old boxer from Cleveland, will face former WBC world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a 10-round cruiserweight bout. The fight will happen on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Paul's last fight was in November against Mike Tyson, a 58-year-old heavyweight icon. Paul won that fight by unanimous decision. After that victory, Paul initially wanted a tougher opponent and a real title shot. He said in a media conference:
"I want someone tougher [than Chavez], and I want a real belt not just like something that's put up for entertainment value so it's great and all, but honestly it's easy work and I want someone tougher to shut people up."
But Paul has changed his mind about fighting Chavez Jr. On the Ariel Helwani Show, he explained his new stance:
"I think [with] Julio, that conservation has always been there, and fans have always wanted it, he's a former world champion, super experienced, and it's a good chip on my belt to test myself in the ring with a very, very tough opponent and he has the name behind him."
This fight marks another step in Paul's boxing career. The fighter, known as "The Problem Child," aims to get a shot at a legitimate world title. His opponent, 39-year-old Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, brings experience as a former world champion to the ring.
Paul's team is also reportedly in talks for a potential fight with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, the unbeaten WBA world lightweight champion. If negotiations go well, that fight could happen before the end of the year.
Paul's initial stance on fighting Chavez Jr can be seen in this video, while his change of heart was explained on the Ariel Helwani Show.
