Jake Paul to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr this summer

Jake Paul is set to make his return to the boxing ring against Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jr this summer.

This bout will mark Paul's first boxing outing since his blockbuster meeting with Mike Tyson on 15th November 2024 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The son of former three-weight boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Chavez Jr has 62 professional bouts to his name and held the WBC middleweight title between 2011 and 2012.

The Ring's senior adviser Mike Coppinger wrote on X:

Jake Paul is set to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at cruiserweight this summer, sources tell The Ring. Chavez Jr, 39, defeated MMA fighter Uriah Hall on Paul's undercard last summer, his first bout in three years. Won't be on Netflix.

'The Problem Child' Paul was reportedly close to inking an agreement to face Canelo Alvarez in a money-spinning megafight this year, only for the pound-for-pound star to agree a four-fight contract with Turki Alalshikh in February.

Chavez Jr has now been selected as Paul's next opponent, with the pair sharing a common opponent with the Mexican losing to MMA legend Anderson Silva via split decision in June 2021.

Paul was able to beat Anderson Silva via unanimous decision in October 2022, indicating that the American is likely to enter this bout with Chavez Jr as the favourite.

Chavez Jr became world middleweight champion in 2011 when overcoming German Sebastian Zbik at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to claim the WBC strap.

The Mexican was able to retain his title on three occasions, including a victory over Irishman Andy Lee - the current trainer of Joseph Parker and Ben Whittaker - in June 2012.

Chavez Jr has also faced the great Canelo Alvarez during his professional career, losing by unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada in May 2017.

Details of the date and venue for Paul v Chavez Jr are yet to be formally announced.

James Wilson

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