The Showdown in California

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr has made a bold prediction about the upcoming fight between his son, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, and YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. The 10-round cruiserweight bout is set to take place at the Honda Center in California, and Sr believes Paul will be left running around the ring "like a chicken without a head."

Chavez Jr's Boxing Pedigree

Chavez Jr, a former world champion at middleweight in 2012, has had a mixed record in recent years, winning eight of his last 13 fights. Despite his struggles with weight and addiction, Chavez Jr remains a formidable opponent with 344 rounds of professional boxing experience compared to Paul's 60.

Paul's Boxing Journey

Jake Paul, 28, has built an 11-1 record, primarily fighting ex-MMA fighters. His only loss came against Tommy Fury. Paul has expressed confidence, stating that a win over Chavez Jr would kick off a "title run." However, Chavez Sr ridiculed Paul at a recent news conference, referencing Paul's lackluster fight against 58-year-old Mike Tyson last November.

The Verbal Sparring

"Jake Paul just fought against Mike Tyson, who didn't even throw one punch," Chavez Sr said. "This is not Mike Tyson. You [Jake] are going to get your ass whooped. Julio is going to go in throwing some serious punches, and you're going to be running like a chicken without a head."

Chavez Jr's Perspective

Chavez Jr also dismissed Paul's boxing skills, stating, "No, I don't think he's good. I think he tries, he trains hard, but he's not a good fighter. He's definitely not a good boxer. If he were a good boxer, then everyone else on this stage would be a legend. I don't think he's a good boxer, and everybody knows that."

The Undercard

The event will also feature former UFC champion Holly Holm making her return to boxing after 12 years focusing on MMA. She will face Yolanda Guadalupe Vega Ochoa. Additionally, Gilberto Ramirez will defend his cruiserweight world titles against Yuniel Dorticos, with Paul seemingly positioning himself for a future fight against Ramirez.

Related Topics

• Boxing: Stay updated with the latest boxing schedule and results for 2025.
• Born to Brawl: Watch every episode of the popular boxing series.
• BBC Sport: Get notifications, social media updates, and more with BBC Sport.