Jake Paul is set to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at cruiserweight this summer, sources tell The Ring.
Chavez Jr., the son of the legendary Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, is 39 years old. He reigned as WBC middleweight titleholder from 2011-12.
Chavez (54-6-1, 34 KOs) defeated former UFC fighter Uriah Hall via six-round decision on Paul’s undercard last summer, his first bout in three years. Unlike Paul’s event with Mike Tyson in November, this bout won’t be streamed by Netflix, sources said.
Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) was closing in on a deal to fight Canelo Alvarez next month before it collapsed at the 11th hour as boxing’s top star signed a four-fight Riyadh Season deal.
Paul, 28, defeated the 58-year-old Tyson via decision in a bout contested over eight two-minute rounds with 14-ounce gloves. The social-media star’s lone defeat was a split-decision setback vs. Tommy Fury in 2023.
The last time Chavez competed against a world-class boxer was 2019 when former champion Daniel Jacobs stopped him in Round five.
Chavez’s shutout decision loss to Canelo in 2017 generated over one million PPV buys. Chavez suffered a decision loss to UFC legend Anderson Silva in 2021.
Last year, Chavez entered a residential treatment program in Los Angeles after he was arrested on felony gun possession charges.
Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s senior insider. He was formerly ESPN’s boxing insider. Follow him on X/Instagram: @MikeCoppinger.