JAKE Paul, the social media personality turned boxer, secured a unanimous decision victory over former middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr. on Saturday night (Sunday, June 29, 2025, PH time).
The bout, held in Southern California, saw Paul dominate the early rounds before fending off a late rally from Chávez.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) appeared to be taking the biggest risk of his unconventional boxing career by facing his most accomplished opponent in the 39-year-old Chávez (54-7-2).
However, Chávez looked lifeless in the ring, barely throwing punches until late in the fourth round of their cruiserweight contest. Despite his famous father’s furious encouragement from ringside, Chávez fought tentatively, allowing Paul to patiently control the ring and land enough to win rounds.
Chávez finally mounted a discernible attack in the sixth round and delivered several impactful shots in the ninth, showcasing glimpses of his extensive boxing background.
Yet, he couldn’t seriously damage Paul, who celebrated vigorously after absorbing flurries in the tenth and final round. Paul dismissed the boos from the pro-Chávez crowd, stating, “All the boos are awards. It was flawless. I think I only got hit about 10 times.”
The judges’ scorecards reflected Paul’s clear victory, with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93. Chávez, who had fought only once since 2021, admitted, “I thought I lost the first five rounds, so I tried to win the last rounds. He’s strong, a good boxer (for) the first three, four rounds. After that, I felt he was tired.”
Chávez, though known for failing to maximize his potential, is the most credible boxer Paul has faced in his 5 1/2 years and 13 professional fights.
Paul has successfully leveraged his online presence and dedication to become a significant force in the boxing business, establishing a promotional company and exploring mixed martial arts.
Paul’s only career loss came in February 2023 against actual boxer Tommy Fury. His last fight was in November, a highly publicized bout against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Chávez’s three-year absence from the ring was interrupted by Paul’s invitation, drawing thousands of eager fans.
Chávez’s career has been marred by numerous challenges, including failed drug tests and missed weights, all while overshadowed by his legendary father.
Despite these setbacks, he won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and defended it three times, sharing the ring with boxing greats like Canelo Álvarez and Sergio Martinez.
Paul’s future as a combat sports phenomenon could soon shift. His financial influence makes it almost inevitable that he will be invited to fight under a sanctioning body, allowing him to book bouts against elite boxers.
When asked about his next opponent, Paul confidently stated, “We’ll see. There’s a long line, so they’ve got to wait in line. Take a ticket.” He also expressed confidence in beating Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez, who retained his cruiserweight titles on the undercard. / From the wires