Oscar De La Hoya expects a ‘back and forth battle’ this weekend at the Honda Center in Anaheim between Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Paul continues his controversial campaign in the sport following a unanimous decision win against 58-year-old Mike Tyson late last year. Chavez competed on that card, too, setting up this bout with a four-round win over former MMA fighter Uriah Hall.
The fight will be contested at cruiserweight over 10 rounds, with Paul the significant betting favourite. Inactivity and issues outside the ropes aside, will bring experience to the ring in the form of a 62-fight record with just six losses. The pair have a shared opponent in Anderson Silva, who beat Chavez but lost to Paul, taking both the distance.
Speaking on social media, De La Hoya – who co-promotes the event alongside Paul’s MVP – predicted all fights on the card and had this to say about the main event:
“Experience or ambition. After a back and forth battle, Jake Paul edges it with a split decision.”
‘The Golden Boy’ – who faced and beat Chavez Jr’s father – previously said that he ‘could see redemption’ for the former middleweight world champion after watching him train. Redemption for a seasoned pro against a 12-fight relative novice could only mean victory, so this latest prediction seems to be a last minute change of mind.
Even so, De La Hoya sees the fight as more competitive than many in the boxing world, with the likes of Teddy Atlas and Shawn Porter strongly backing the A-side due to his shrewd matchmaking against a fighter who is long past his best.
