Jake Paul is just over one month away from making his return to the sport.
The 28-year-old from Cleveland will face former WBC world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a 10-round cruiserweight bout at the Honda Center in Anaheim on June 28.
Paul’s last outing came in November when he defeated 58-year-old heavyweight icon Mike Tyson via unanimous decision in Texas.
’The Problem Child’ has once again expressed his desire to secure himself a shot at a legitimate world title and claimed in a media conference before the fight with Chavez was announced that he wasn’t interested in facing the 39-year-old Mexican because he wanted ‘someone tougher’ and that it was ‘easy work.’
“I want someone tougher [than Chavez], and I want a real belt not just like something that’s put up for entertainment value so it’s great and all, but honestly it’s easy work and I want someone tougher to shut people up.”
However, Paul has since made an obvious u-turn on his initial comments and told the Ariel Helwani Show that a victory over the ‘experienced’ Chavez could be important for the progression of his career.
”I think [with] Julio, that conservation has always been there, and fans have always wanted it, he’s a former world champion, super experienced, and it’s a good chip on my belt to test myself in the ring with a very, very tough opponent and he has the name behind him.”
Despite his focus being on Chavez, Paul is reportedly in negotiations with unbeaten WBA world lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, with both fighters said to be discussing a showdown that could take place before the end of the year.
