Jake Paul is just weeks away from making his long awaited return to the ring.
The 28-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio will face former WBC world middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a cruiserweight bout at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday June 28.
It will be Paul’s first ring appearance since he defeated heavyweight legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson in their controversial showdown in November, outpointing the 58-year-old after eight rounds at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Chavez has had an underwhelming career since he held the WBC middleweight crown between 2011 and 2012, but the 29-year-old from Mexico could become the second fighter to defeat Paul, potentially derailing his world title charge in the process.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao was asked to share his thoughts on the fight and whether he believes a Paul victory would solidify his position as a legitimate fighter.
“It’s up to the fans how they analyse it and how they judge it but I don’t think so.”
Should he be victorious over Chavez at the end of the month, Paul could go on to face WBA world lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in a catchweight bout before the end of 2025, with both fighters said to be in negotiations.
Another option for Paul could be a showdown with undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, who was reportedly on the verge of finalising a fight with the 28-year-old before he made a u-turn on this decision in favour of a bout against Terence Crawford.
