“If It Was a Real Fight”: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Opens Up on Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul Fight Saga

Boxing legend Mike Tyson is stepping back into the ring, this time for an exhibition bout against YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul. The fight, slated for July 20th, will be held at the massive AT&T Stadium in Texas, home to the Dallas Cowboys. Notably, this isn’t your typical boxing showdown.

Tyson, the former undisputed champ who retired in 2005 with a knockout resume, will face Paul, a young athlete with a massive online following. The 80,000-seat stadium hints at the fight’s potential to be a spectacle, blurring the lines between boxing nostalgia and internet fame. Moreover, looking at the track record of ‘Iron’ Mike, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. believes Tyson would knock out Jake Paul in a fair fight.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. questions the legitimacy of Paul vs. Tyson fight

Boxing veteran Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. weighed in on the upcoming exhibition bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, offering a blunt prediction. “If it was a real fight,” Chavez Jr. told ESNEWS, “Mike Tyson with one punch put sleep to Jake Paul.” His words leave little doubt about his opinion on the YouTuber’s chances against the legendary heavyweight.

Chavez Jr. seems to scoff at the legitimacy of the exhibition format, suggesting a fight wouldn’t even be competitive. “But since it’s the exhibition,” he conceded, “[it might] go the decision.” This implies Chavez Jr. believes the fight could be extended, possibly to a points victory for one of the fighters, due to the non-competitive nature of the event.

Many may wonder what Chavez Jr. means by Paul-Tyson not being a real fight. Well, Mike Tyson has tried to answer some queries regarding this enthralling contest set up for Netflix.

Mike Tyson addresses the rules of his fight against Jake Paul

Boxing legend Mike Tyson threw a knockout punch to expectations this week, confirming his upcoming fight with Jake Paul will be an exhibition. At the same time, he also confirmed on Fox News, “This is a fight.” Mainly because it won’t be following the usual exhibition rules. In fact, this is a no-holds-barred showdown, according to what the 57-year-old champ said. But don’t be fooled by the vintage year on Tyson’s birth certificate.

Read More: Opinion: Sanctioning Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul as Pro-fight Would’ve Been an Embarrassment for the Sport

Mike Tyson assures the fans that he’s anything but past his prime. “I don’t think he’s faster than me,” he scoffed, responding to a question about his 27-year-old opponent being faster than him. Meanwhile, Paul is playing the role of internet provocateur perfectly. A questionable face tattoo and a tiger photo are just his latest attempts to get under Tyson’s skin. So, as of now, their fight is being advertised as an exhibition bout, but it’d follow the norms of a real professional fight.

So, when Chavez Jr. says this isn’t a real fight, it’s mostly because of the event being called an exhibition. However, it seems the exhibition is just for the sake of nomenclature, while Tyson and Paul will be going for each other’s throats in the fight. What do you think? Tell us in the comments section.

Also Read: “I Take it Serious”: 57-Year-Old Mike Tyson Details His Daily Routine Ahead of the Jake Paul Fight