Jake Paul drew confused reactions by comparing his next boxing match to Paddy Pimblett`s recent victory against Michael Chandler.
Controversial boxer Jake Paul`s recent statements about his upcoming return to the ring have surprised many.
Paul is scheduled to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., son of the legendary boxer, in Anaheim on June 28th. This will be his return to the ring, with a highly anticipated match against boxing legend Mike Tyson also announced for November.
Although Chavez is a former world champion with a pro record of 54-6-1, many commentators believe he is significantly past his physical prime for this fight. Chavez`s last competition was a win against former UFC middleweight contender Uriah Hall in July of last year.
The announcement of the controversial boxer`s next fight by Paul and Most Valuable Promotions has elicited mixed reactions from the public. Paul responded by comparing his upcoming bout to Paddy Pimblett`s decisive victory against Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
Fans Criticize Jake Paul`s Controversial Comparison for Upcoming Fight
In a recent video shared on Most Valuable Promotions` social media, Paul addressed his critics.
Paul defended the matchup by highlighting that Chavez Jr. is a former cruiserweight world champion, the same weight and size as him, with significantly more professional boxing experience. He argued that critics were inconsistent, pointing to Paddy Pimblett`s recent win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Paul noted that Chandler`s age wasn`t criticized in that fight, despite him being the same age as Chavez Jr. He challenged potential excuses about Chavez Jr.`s age if he wins.
Fight fans quickly criticized Paul`s statements online.
Comments from fans expressed skepticism, with responses like “He`s fading out,” and questions about why he isn`t fighting opponents in their prime or having a rematch with Tommy Fury (who is the same age as Paul). Others pointed out that simply being a “former” world champion doesn`t mean Chavez Jr. is still in his prime. Several comments suggested Paul had to work hard to justify the fight and that it might struggle to sell.
Throughout his boxing career, Paul`s choice of opponents has often drawn criticism from fans. In his 11-1 record (as stated in the source text), he has notably defeated former UFC fighters like Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz, alongside others with limited prior boxing experience.
Jake Paul Fact-Checked Over Inaccurate Canelo Alvarez Comment
Earlier in their careers, Chavez Jr. presented a significant challenge to Canelo Alvarez, although Alvarez ultimately won by unanimous decision. In a social media post announcing the fight, Paul criticized Alvarez, claiming he didn`t defeat Chavez in a convincing manner.
However, Alvarez actually won the fight by a wide margin on the judges` scorecards. This led to X`s (formerly Twitter) community notes feature adding a correction to Paul`s post.
Reportedly, Chavez chose the fight against Paul instead of a potential bout with KSI, one of Paul`s rivals in YouTube boxing. KSI had been scheduled to fight Dillon Danis earlier this year but withdrew due to illness and has since suggested he might retire.
Prior to the announcement of the Chavez fight, Paul had reportedly been in brief discussions about facing Anthony Joshua, despite the considerable size difference between them. Furthermore, negotiations for a fight with Canelo Alvarez were reportedly nearing completion before Alvarez signed a major deal with Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh.
