Jake Paul Triumphs Over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Controversial Match

After his unanimous decision victory over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday night in Anaheim, California, Jake Paul certainly had some words for the booing crowd. He told them to “close the f–up” during a post-fight interview, making gestures that seemed to provoke the audience. “All boos are words and actions speak more eloquently than words, so y’all can close the f– up!” he remarked, clearly enjoying the spotlight.

In this bout, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) squared off against his most formidable opponent yet, the 39-year-old Chavez (54-7-2). It was, perhaps, one of the biggest risks Paul has taken in his boxing career, especially with the pro-Chavez crowd cheering him on in Southern California.

However, it didn’t quite feel like a significant threat once Chavez entered the ring. He barely threw any punches until the latter half of the fourth round. Even as his father screamed from ringside, Chavez seemed composed but cautious. He fought in a way that, well, didn’t seem too aggressive, while Paul landed enough hits to claim the rounds.

Chavez finally picked up the tempo in the sixth round, delivering some exciting uppercuts in the ninth, showing glimpses of his lengthy boxing career. Still, it seemed he couldn’t do much damage to the YouTuber-turned-boxer.

The judges scored the match 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 in favor of Paul, while the Associated Press also gave Paul the nod with a score of 97-93.

Chavez reflected on the match, saying, “I thought I had lost the first five rounds, so I tried to win the final round. He’s a strong, good boxer—his first three or four rounds were solid. After that, he felt tired. I don’t think he’s ready for a championship, but he’s a good fighter.” Having only fought once since 2021, Chavez’s journey seems rather underwhelming considering he carries the weight of a legendary boxing legacy.