Jake Paul’s improbable boxing journey added its most decorated chapter yet on Saturday night, as the YouTuber-turned-contender scored a convincing unanimous decision victory over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a 10-round cruiserweight bout at the sold-out Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Fighting in front of a hostile, pro-Chavez crowd and with significant stakes on the line, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) controlled the fight from the opening bell and earned the nod from all three judges with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93. It was Paul’s sixth straight win since his only career loss—a split decision against Tommy Fury in February 2023—and it may have finally opened the door to his long-stated ambition: a shot at a world title.
“This was the biggest win of my life,” Paul said after the fight. “Julio is a former world champion, and I just outboxed him in front of his people. I’m coming for that WBC belt.”
The atmosphere in Anaheim was electric, with Chavez receiving a hero’s welcome due to both his Mexican heritage and his famous surname. Paul, leaning into the role of villain, entered the ring draped in a robe colored with the Mexican flag and walked out to “Lean Like a Cholo” by rapper Down AKA Kilo. But once the bell rang, Paul proved the hype isn’t just marketing.
He established control early with a steady jab and stayed committed to it throughout the fight. Paul landed 65 of his 302 jabs (21.5%) and a total of 140 punches on 482 thrown (29%), keeping Chavez on the defensive and out of rhythm. Meanwhile, Chavez (54-7-1, 34 KOs) offered little in return for most of the fight, his output lethargic and his movement flat-footed.
Despite entering the bout in what many called the best shape of his recent career, Chavez was a step behind the entire night. He only showed a spark in the final two rounds when the fight was already slipping away.
The win over Chavez comes just months after Paul’s surprising unanimous decision victory over former heavyweight king Mike Tyson, which took place in November 2024 in front of 80,000 fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. But while Tyson was a cultural moment, beating Chavez Jr.—a legitimate, albeit faded, former world champion—adds a layer of credibility to Paul’s ambitions.
It wasn’t just another novelty fight. Saturday’s bout was sanctioned at cruiserweight, and a victory over Chavez could see Paul officially enter the WBC’s top-15 rankings at 200 pounds, making him eligible to challenge for a world title.
“People laughed when I said I wanted to be world champion,” Paul said. “They’re not laughing anymore.”
Once the pride of Mexican boxing, Chavez Jr.’s career has become a cautionary tale of wasted potential. He won the WBC middleweight title in 2011 and made three successful defenses, but in the years since, he’s been marred by inconsistent performances, weight issues, and multiple stints in rehab.
Now 38, Chavez has fought three straight times at cruiserweight, a far cry from the prime years when his future seemed destined to mirror that of his legendary father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Saturday’s performance—listless, disengaged, and lacking urgency—may well signal the end of his time in high-profile boxing matches.
With this win, Jake Paul has positioned himself for a legitimate place in the cruiserweight title conversation. Whether the WBC ranks him in their next update remains to be seen, but the victory over Chavez will undoubtedly strengthen his case.
He has stated a desire to fight for a world title by the end of 2025, and with wins over Tyson and Chavez on his résumé, the idea no longer seems far-fetched.
“I’m not here to be famous anymore,” Paul said. “I’m here to be a champion.”
And after Saturday night in Anaheim, that mission just took another massive step forward.
