If you know the ABCs of boxing, you probably already know how Jake Paul‘s June 28th clash with Julio César Chávez Jr. is going to play out. Spoiler: Jake Paul’s likely walking away with the W. But not because he’s outclassing Chávez Jr. in the sweet science. This isn’t prime Julio we’re talking about. The 11-year age gap? Can’t ignore it. But then again, this is the same Jake Paul who fought Mike Tyson with a 31-year difference and didn’t blink.
And let’s not forget. Chávez Jr. has been missing from serious boxing for almost three years, sidetracked by rehab, legal troubles, and and a brief time behind bars. And even though he beat Uriah Hall, a former MMA fighter last year, critics say the spark is long gone. That includes none other than Oscar De La Hoya, who’s throwing shade and facts, even pulling Canelo Alvarez comparisons to make his point. So what did he say?
Jake Paul’s biggest ‘What If’ yet?
A fresh drop from Most Valuable Promotions’ Instagram just stirred the pot with a little help from Oscar De La Hoya. Resharing the clip from Power 106 LA, MVP captioned the post as, “Is Jake Paul about to do what Canelo couldn’t? Find out June 28th ” In the clip, De La Hoya dropped the bait: “Chavez Jr went the distance with Canelo. Right? In Canelo’s prime. And so imagine if Jake Paul knocks out Chavez Jr then what?”
Flashback to 2017: a 31-year-old Chávez Jr. survived 12 rounds with a 26-year-old Canelo Alvarez. Sure, Chávez lost, but was that the end of the road? Not quite. Two years later, he bounced back with a first-round KO over Evert Bravo. Still, the path wasn’t exactly smooth after that. He suffered back-to-back losses before redeeming himself with a fourth-round TKO over Jeyson Minda in November 2020. And yes, he did fall short against Anderson Silva in 2021 (the same Silva Jake Paul would later beat). But since then, Chávez Jr. has strung together two wins in a row. Still, is that streak enough ammo for Jake Paul?
Julio César Chávez Sr. sure had his doubts. “I don’t make predictions anymore” he confessed recently. “He hits hard and he can take a punch. [But] What he’s lacked is conditioning and volume.” In his eyes, the key isn’t surviving, it’s striking first.
But here’s where it gets juicy: that tone of uncertainty? It’s shifting. Recent murmurs suggest Chávez Sr. is sounding more fired up, maybe even confident. What changed?
Could Jake Paul hit the canvas this time?
Just days ago, Julio César Chávez Sr. dropped a bomb of belief. “I went to go watch Jr. train two times recently and he’s impressed me,” the three-division champ told Most Valuable Promotions. “Never in my life have I seen him train so hard for a fight.” That’s not just fatherly pride talking. That’s a boxing icon watching his son go all-in.
Chávez Sr. didn’t hold back either. “If he keeps training like this, I have no doubt he beats Jake,” Simple. Direct. Legendary. The Mexican great has seen every high and low in his son’s career and yet, this version of Chávez Jr. has him convinced.
Still, let’s not forget: Jr. is 39, and the ring doesn’t forgive birthdays. But if his own father’s throwing down the confidence gauntlet, maybe we should all pause before doubting. So, are you rolling with De La Hoya’s hypothetical KO dream? Or are you betting The Problem Child finally meets his problem?
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