Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr are getting ready to face off in the ring. The two fighters will meet at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on Saturday, June 28 for a cruiserweight bout.
Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Mike Tyson last November. At 28 years old, 'The Problem Child' has his sights set on becoming a legitimate world champion. He's faced criticism for his choice of opponents since turning pro, but a win over Chavez Jr could change that narrative.
Chavez Jr, a former WBC middleweight champion, is unbeaten in his last two fights. He'll look to become only the second man to defeat Paul in the boxing ring.
Reigning WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez shared his thoughts on the matchup during an appearance on the BOXR Podcast.
"You know people have this debate, you know even for us like has he faced a real fighter yet? Has he faced a pro fighter yet? I think that it is a great start up to test the waters for Jake Paul, he finds a way to make it entertaining and execute."
Lopez sees the fight as a good opportunity for Paul to prove himself against a more experienced opponent.
"Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, I haven't seen him fight in a while, we will see what he does. You know I think it is gonna be a good step up for Jake Paul though at the end and see if he is really serious about the boxing world – I think it's exciting for everybody, may the best man win."
For Paul, a victory over the former world champion could make a big statement in the boxing world. Chavez Jr will be eager to show he still has what it takes to compete at a high level.
The fight promises to be an intriguing matchup between two fighters at different stages of their careers. Boxing fans will be watching closely to see if Paul can continue his rise or if Chavez Jr can derail the social media star's boxing ambitions.
