Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr are set to face off in the ring on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The match pits the YouTuber-turned-boxer against the former WBC middleweight champion in what's shaping up to be an interesting clash.
Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter has weighed in with a bold prediction: Jake Paul will win by knockout. Porter's forecast comes from his firsthand observations of Chavez Jr's training habits, which he describes as less than impressive.
"One day he came into the gym he shadow boxed, I don't know if he made it a round on the bag, then he packed up and left … I've seen some short stuff. I don't want to disrespect but it will make you scratch your head. The other fighters were laughing like 'that was it? Why did he show up?'"
Porter points out that Chavez Jr doesn't seem to have much stamina and isn't putting in the work at the gym. He's noticed short training sessions and a lack of dedication that's got other fighters questioning Chavez Jr's commitment.
Jake Paul's last bout saw him secure a unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson in November. The fight raised eyebrows due to the 58-year-old Tyson's nearly two-decade absence from professional competition.
On the other side of the ring, Chavez Jr held the WBC middleweight title from 2011 to 2012 but has struggled to recapture that form in recent years. He's lost fights he was expected to win, missed weight multiple times, and faced issues outside the ring. Despite this, Chavez Jr claims he's back to his best for this upcoming fight.
Oscar De La Hoya has also shared his thoughts on the matchup, drawing from his own experiences of seeing Chavez Jr train in the past.
The June 28 showdown will test both fighters' claims and preparations. Will Jake Paul continue his winning streak, or will Chavez Jr prove he's truly back in form? Boxing fans will have to tune in to find out.
