Jake Paul continued his ascent in the boxing world on Saturday night by securing a unanimous decision win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The fight took place at California’s Honda Center, where Paul convincingly defeated the ex-champion, who was well past his prime by about ten years. Judges scored the fight 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92 in Paul’s favor.
Paul praised Chavez for his toughness and warrior spirit, acknowledging the Mexican fighter’s resilience despite being outmatched. Although the atmosphere didn’t quite match the electrifying energy of Paul’s previous bout against Mike Tyson, the Honda Center crowd still delivered a strong ambiance typical of championship fights. Paul’s entrance, donning a robe in Mexico’s flag colors, was a nod of respect to the home crowd, while Chavez received a hero’s welcome in honor of his famous boxing lineage.
Despite Chavez’s reputation, his recent decade has been marked by inconsistency, reflecting a 6-5 record with struggles including weight issues and lackluster performances. Though he appeared in his best shape in years for this fight, it wasn’t enough to threaten Paul. Chavez’s energy was backed by the crowd, but he struggled through much of the match, failing to effectively counter Paul’s jab and only gaining momentum when trailing on points late in the fight.
Paul, now with a record of 12-1 and 7 knockouts, controlled the early rounds by maintaining distance and focusing on his jab, landing 140 punches out of 482 thrown (29%), with 65 of 302 jabs connecting (21.5%) across 10 rounds. Paul described the fight as “perfect,” facing a former world champion who never gave up.
Chavez, at 39, landed 61 of 154 punches (39.6%), but his effort was considered poor for a former middleweight king. By mid-fight, Paul began mixing in right-hand punches to complement his jab, while Chavez struggled to land any significant or fight-changing shots. Chavez showed signs of life in the final rounds with a powerful hook but couldn’t turn the tide.
Following the victory, Paul expressed his ambition to face tougher competition and ultimately become a world champion. He called out fighters like Zurdo Ramirez, Budowjack, and Tommy Fury, challenging them directly.
Fan Take: This win is a pivotal moment for Jake Paul, proving he can compete and succeed against former champions, which could shake up traditional boxing hierarchies. For fight fans, Paul’s growing legitimacy brings fresh excitement and new rivalries that could reshape the sport’s mainstream appeal.
