Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr are set to face off in a cruiserweight bout next month. This match marks Paul's return to the ring after his controversial eight-round fight against Mike Tyson.
Paul's last appearance was against 58-year-old Mike Tyson, while Chavez Jr, a former middleweight world champion, hasn't been active at the top level recently. The 39-year-old Mexican fighter is years past his prime and lost to Anderson Silva, a common opponent who Paul managed to defeat.
Top trainer Robert Garcia, who works with stars like Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez and Vergil Ortiz Jr, shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight with ES News. Garcia favors Chavez to win but acknowledges it won't be an easy fight.
"Be in good shape. He's got to be in good shape and just be Chavez, man. He's healthy now, right? It's gonna be tough, though … Jake Paul's a strong f***er and he's got skills too, so it's not gonna be an easy fight. But I'm going for Chavez. I like Chavez."
Garcia pointed out the size difference between the fighters and how a younger Chavez would have handled Paul easily. He added:
"Jake Paul's big. Chavez, the fresh, healthy Chavez of ten years ago, would beat the s**t out of him. But now I don't know, he's just got out of rehab. I don't know how good he's doing … If he's in good shape, Chavez should beat him … He's gonna win."
Chavez Jr has faced well-documented troubles outside the ring but has assured fans he's in a healthy space now. A win for him could lead to a rematch.
For Paul, this fight could be his twelfth victory. He's aiming for a legitimate run at a world title. Current WBC 200lbs champion Badou Jack has said he's open to fighting Paul in the future.
The fight promises to be interesting, pitting Paul's youth and recent activity against Chavez's experience and pedigree. We'll have to wait until next month to see if Garcia's prediction comes true.
