Jake Paul beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr via unanimous decision at the Honda Center, Anaheim, extending his professional record to 12-1 and handed the Mexican his seventh loss.
Chavez, 39 and years past his fighting best, seemed allergic to offense in the opening rounds, plodding forward but throwing very little and allowing Paul to build a steady lead.
The fight followed that pattern, Chavez reluctant and Paul landing enough to win the rounds, showing that he has made some small additions to his arsenal in the form of bodywork and uppercuts. It was not a high level contest,
Chavez rallied in the ninth, finally doing enough to win the round and testing Paul’s chin a little. He looked to do the same in the tenth and final but had less success and lost wide on the cards.
Post-fight, Paul once again called out cruiserweight world champions Gilberto Ramirez – who defended his unified titles on the undercard with a points win over Yuniel Dorticos – and Badou Jack.
Though Chavez was complimentary in his own interview, he said that he feels the American is ‘not ready’ for a world title run.
“He’s strong. A good boxer [for] the first three, four rounds. After that, I feel I tired him. I don’t think he’s ready for the champions, but he’s a good fighter.”
Paul said he would fight again this year, naming the two champions above as well as lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis and Tommy Fury – the only man to have beaten him – as options.
