After a quiet first quarter of 2025, YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul has reportedly found his next opponent. According to Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger, Paul is set to face former boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a cruiserweight bout scheduled for this summer.
“Jake Paul is set to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at cruiserweight this summer, sources tell @ringmagazine. Mexico’s Chavez is the son of the Hall of Famer. JCC Jr., 39, defeated MMA’s Uriah Hall on Paul’s undercard last summer, his first bout in 3 years. Won’t be on Netflix,” Coppinger reported on April 18.
The matchup comes as somewhat of a surprise considering Paul’s comments just a few months ago during a press conference where he dismissed the possibility of facing Chavez Jr.
“I want someone tougher [than Chavez] and I want a real belt, not just something that gets put up for entertainment value,” Paul stated. “It’s great and all, but, honestly, he’s easy work and I want someone tougher to shut people up.”
Chavez Jr., the son of boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., has previously expressed interest in the potential matchup. The 39-year-old Mexican boxer returned to action last summer on Paul’s undercard, defeating MMA’s Uriah Hall in what was his first competitive match in three years.
“It’s an option, we’re looking into it, let’s see, this week I have a meeting,” Chavez Jr. said regarding the potential bout. “I’d be interested in fighting a champion, but fighting Jake Paul, for the fame and the media, would put me in a position to fight against others. I’m not looking for it, it’s been presented. It’s not concrete, but let’s see what happens.”
The bout represents another step in Paul‘s boxing journey as he continues to face opponents with legitimate boxing credentials. Unlike Paul’s previous Netflix-streamed matches, this contest will reportedly be distributed through other channels.
Boxing fans will be watching closely to see if the social media star can continue his controversial but commercially successful boxing career against the experienced former world champion.
