Jake Paul says he’s lastly going to struggle the type of opponent his critics wish to see him face. Subsequent 12 months.
On Saturday, Paul added one other win to his boxing résumé, taking a unanimous choice over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. of their cruiserweight struggle in Anaheim, Calif. It was one other underwhelming efficiency from Paul, who was visibly bigger than the 39-year-old Chavez, and solely continued the criticism Paul has confronted for hand-picking undersized and past-their-prime opponents. However for Paul, this win was a pivotal second in his profession: a turning level for him in direction of a extra severe boxing run.
“I don’t even suppose I used to be a fighter then,” Paul stated in his post-fight press convention when requested about his loss to Tommy Fury compared to his efficiency on Saturday. “That was two years, two-and-a-half years into the game, and I didn’t know what I used to be doing. I didn’t have the precise crew round me, the correct crew round me, the correct conditioning. My life-style outdoors of the ring was nonetheless like a YouTube, movie star, actor, no matter I used to be on the time. I wasn’t absolutely targeted on boxing.
“This looks like chapter one is finished tonight, now we’re shifting on to chapter two and I’m simply getting warmed up on this sport. Individuals maintain the Tommy Fury factor in opposition to me, however what now? I simply beat a former world champion, and I’m coming to avenge that loss, as nicely, with Tommy.”
Paul misplaced a break up choice to Fury in 2023, bolstering criticism that Paul is just not an actual boxer, as he held himself out to be. Since then, the previous YouTuber has received six in a row, although his opponents did little to dissuade his critics. Earlier than going through Chavez, Paul squared off with 58-year-old Mike Tyson in an eight-round struggle final November. However along with his new shift towards a extra severe boxing profession, Paul now units his sights on a extra age-appropriate matchup: former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
“That’s the primary one which we’ve talked quite a bit about,” Paul’s enterprise accomplice, Nakisa Bidarian, stated. “If it’s not for the title, it’s taking a look at Tommy, if he’s cheap, after which Anthony Joshua. And he’s adamant that he desires to make that struggle occur on the finish of 2026. We’re going to fulfill with Matchroom whereas we’re in New York.”
Solely 35 years outdated, Joshua is a former unified heavyweight champion, and considered one of the harmful punchers of his era. Joshua brutally knocked out Francis Ngannou in March of 2024, earlier than getting stopped by Daniel Dubois in September of that 12 months of their IBF heavyweight title struggle. For Paul, Joshua would signify an enormous leap up in competitors, however one “The Drawback Youngster” insists he’s prepared for.
“I’m positively not a heavyweight however I’m nonetheless going to take the problem,” Paul stated. “You have a look at Deontay Wilder, he was beating these guys weighing 215 kilos. Granted, he’s 6-foot-6 or one thing, however something is feasible. I just like the problem. That’s the criticism. ‘Battle somebody of their prime who’s a beast!’ I feel folks simply wish to see me lose. That’s actually the message behind all of it. Anthony Joshua is an insane struggle, however I need that problem. We’ve been DMing backwards and forwards, he desires to make it occur, he referred to as me up, and it’s trying very probably for subsequent 12 months.”
