Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Landmark Victory, Eyes World Title Shot

Jake Paul’s transformation from internet influencer to legitimate boxing contender took a major step forward Saturday night, as he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. via unanimous decision in front of a raucous pro-Chavez crowd at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. 

Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) controlled the bout from start to finish, using his jab to neutralize a flat-footed and largely passive Chavez (54-7-1, 34 KOs). The judges scored the fight 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93, all in favor of Paul—marking the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s most credible win to date. "He’sHe’s never been stopped, and he’s a Mexican warrior,” Paul said post-fight. “But I’m also a warrior, and I came out on top tonight.”

Despite the impressive scorecards, the win comes with context. Chavez Jr., now 39 and a decade past his prime, has spent much of the last ten years dealing with personal struggles, including rehab stints and sporadic activity in the ring. His record over the last decade fell to 6-6 with the loss, further underscoring the erosion of his once-promising career.

Still, Chavez entered the fight in arguably the best shape he’s shown in years. Yet that physical improvement didn’t translate in the ring. He spent much of the early rounds stalking Paul without letting his hands go, absorbing jabs and failing to mount sustained offense until the final two rounds were too little, too late.

Paul’s game plan was both simple and effective: stick the jab, manage distance, and avoid exchanges. He landed 140 of 482 punches (29%), including 65 jabs. Chavez, in contrast, connected on just 61 of 154 punches, a dismal figure for a fighter once considered Mexico’s next great boxing heir.

“I think I only got hit 10 times,” Paul said. “Going 10 rounds against a former world champion who’s never been stopped I embarrassed him like that.” As the rounds wore on, Paul added right hands and uppercuts to the mix, showcasing growing confidence and an increasingly complete arsenal. Although visibly tired in the later stages, he withstood Chavez’s late flurries and fired back enough to cement the win.

Fighting in hostile territory, Paul leaned into the villain role walking out to "Lean Like a Cholo" and donning Mexican-flag-themed gear. The crowd overwhelmingly favored Chavez, whose last name still resonates deeply with Mexican boxing fans due to his legendary father. But fanfare alone couldn’t bridge the gap in performance.

With the win, Paul continues to inch toward a world title shot—a goal that once seemed laughable but now feels within the realm of possibility. “I want tougher fighters, and I want to be a world champion,” Paul said. “'Zurdo' Ramirez looked slow tonight. That’s easy work. I want Badou Jack. Tommy Fury can get it too. Stop running from me, Tommy.”

Whether Paul is truly ready for elite-level competition remains to be seen. Chavez himself offered a skeptical assessment: “He’s strong, a good boxer for the first three, four rounds,” Chavez said. “After that, I felt he was tired. I don’t think he’s ready for the champions, but he’s a good fighter.” Love him or hate him, Jake Paul has done what many laughed at: he’s proven he can beat a former world champion inside a professional boxing ring. The path to a world title is still filled with question marks, but Jake Paul has taken another meaningful step.