Julio Cesar Chavez Jr will step into the ring against Jake Paul on June 28. The cruiserweight bout will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
Chavez Jr, 39, from Culiacan, Mexico, once stood at the top of the middleweight division. He held the WBC world title from 2011 to 2012 and made several successful defenses. But since losing that belt to Sergio Martinez in 2012, Chavez Jr has struggled, dropping five fights. He's now on a bit of an upswing, going unbeaten in his last two outings.
On the other side of the ring, Jake Paul continues his journey from YouTube sensation to professional boxer. Known as "The Problem Child," Paul has only one loss on his record. He returned to the ring last November and beat heavyweight icon Mike Tyson via unanimous decision in an eight-round bout at AT&T; Stadium in Texas. That win sent the 58-year-old Tyson into permanent retirement and pushed Paul closer to his goal of becoming a legitimate world champion.
Canelo Alvarez, the reigning undisputed super-middleweight champion who defeated Chavez in 2017, shared his thoughts on the upcoming fight during a media scrum. Canelo said he's rooting for his fellow Mexican.
"I fully trust that he'll secure that victory. It's a chance for him to redeem himself and it's a great opportunity."
If Chavez Jr wins, he could put a big dent in Paul's championship dreams. But Chavez Jr's lack of activity in recent years might work against him. The fight promises to be an interesting clash between a former world champion looking to reclaim glory and a rising star aiming to prove his legitimacy in the boxing world.
