Whether you like it or not, the phenomenon of Jake Paul is here to stay. Well, we agree it’s not what purists like. You will always find him engulfed in a thick air of showmanship and a veil of shenanigans. But when you tear that apart, you will witness a boxer who is slowly becoming better. It will be a hard pill to swallow for many, but his movements and weapons, like an overhand right, are becoming deadly. So, where does it leave him? Can he go ahead, venture out, and take on fighters like Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.?

Since Paul, 27, handed a defeat to Mike Tyson this November, he has been on few professional fighters’ targets. While the likes of Artur Beterbiev and Daniel Dubois have moved on after an initial burst of anger, Chavez Jr. is somewhere still in the mix. What’s more? He even has a meeting scheduled with the Paul team. Is a fight on the cards? It pretty much is. But it also begs a question—can ‘Problem Child’ do it against a former world champion?

Jake Paul: mold of a better boxer

When we look at Paul’s career trajectory since first making his way to the squared circle, he has shown meteoric growth. When you saw him fighting AnEsonGib and Nate Robinson, you saw an influencer with raw power—good with the public but rough around the edges in the ring. What did he do next? The American boxer brought in BJ Flores, and he honed his fundamentals—footwork, timing, and how to even throw a punch.

Then came the time to test those with some proven A-listers. Not only did he brush past Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley, but he also made it look easy and devastating. The raw power became a deadly right, and his footwork and jab allowed him to control the fights. Sure, the criticism of fighting old, retired fighters caught up to him. But the Cleveland native made money outside the ring and made progress in it. You could observe him putting in patience and tactical acumen.

While a loss to Tommy Fury followed, it was way closer than you would have expected it to be. After a string of not-so-publicity-marred fights, the fans witnessed a complete version of him against ‘Iron Mike’. You could argue whether the same could prevail against a professional fighter, but Paul has always seemed to have done enough to make himself look like a better boxer against his opponents. So, the question will be whether the former Mexican champion will push him to the limits.

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.: the steep downfall

Yes, Chavez Jr., 38, reigned supreme in the middleweight division and went 46-0 early in his career. That’s an eye-popping resume. However, a deeper dive could show you some cracks. The fans always argued that he never fought the absolute best in the division. More than his performances inside the ring, his antics outside of it seized the headlines. The questions of the Culiacan native’s lifestyle, his commitment to fighting, and most notably, his inconsistency, remained. He could never iron out those.

The result? A tale of unfulfilled potential, which only spiraled down after a point. If you watched his fights with journeyman Mario Abel Cazares, you could trace his downfall. The dwindling of willpower, slow movements, and fading away of reflexes. It all culminated in a loss to Anderson Silva, the former UFC champion, whom Paul defeated the next year. So, does that mean that he will go down against Paul?

Predictive: is another upset on the cards?

Not exactly. Whether you consider Chavez Jr. washed up or not, he has the boxing pedigree of a world champion. Not to mention his 62-fight-long pro career. The excessive scrutiny surrounding him stems from his family name. If the same boxing record and resume are put before any fan, they will laud the fighter for going up against Canelo Alvarez and becoming a world champion. However, an apparent sharp decline also can’t be avoided.

When pitted against an ever-evolving Paul, who has raced to an 11-1 record, it could be a close contest. Paul will face the toughest battle to date inside the ring. But he does have a knack for surprising boxing fans. He could do the same against Chavez Jr. The only caveat is how he would cope with the vagaries of a world title fight.

The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter has only fought for 10 rounds once, that too against Nate Diaz. Asking him to toil for 12 rounds will be a bit too much. He needs to strengthen his body for such a long fight. If they were to fight now, logic and rationality would tip the scale in Chavez Jr.’s favor. But when do these factors have influenced any flight, right?

What do you make of this hypothetical fight between Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.? Who do you think will win the fight? Let us know in the comments below.