Everything you need to know about the most viral fight of the year between Jake Paul and Julio César Chávez Jr.

Seven months after defeating Mike Tyson in a record-breaking heavyweight bout, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul continues his pursuit of world-champion status by facing Julio César Chávez Jr. in a cruiserweight clash in Anaheim this weekend.

Paul, who has accrued an 11-1 record since his first professional fight in 2020, earned a unanimous-decision win over Tyson in November 2024, in a showdown that was the most-streamed sporting event in history.

Netflix, which broadcast the Las Vegas fight, says a total of 108 million viewers worldwide tuned in to the bout, with concurrent global audience peaking at 65 million.

Up against an ex-champ

Nicknamed “The Problem Child” and “El Gallo De Dorado”, Paul now goes up against a Mexican former WBC middleweight title holder who is the son of multiple world champion Julio César Chávez.

A boxer with a 54-6-1 pro record, Chávez Jr. last took to the ring in July 2024, defeating former MMA fighter Uriah Hall by unanimous decision in Arlington, Texas.

The 39-year-old was WBC champion from June 2011, when he beat Germany’s Sebastian Zbik, until September 2012, when he lost his belt to Argentina’s Sergio Martínez.

“I will knock out Julio”

After the April announcement of his fight with Chávez Jr., Paul told ESPN: “Five years ago, I stepped into the ring for my pro debut after a single amateur fight, and every fight since has been a step towards becoming world champion.

“Chávez Jr. is Mexican, but I, El Gallo De Dorado, have the will and heart of the great Mexican fighters […]. I will knock out Julio and make Chávez Sr. proud in ways Jr. never has.”

If Paul can beat Chávez Jr., notes DAZN’s Andrew Steel, it could pave the way for the American to step up to a clash with a major name such as the Mexican super middleweight undisputed champion Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, or the U.S.’s WBA lightweight title holder Gervonta Davis.

“I want to end Paul’s career”

Chávez Jr., a now-sober fighter whose career has been marred by addiction issues, said of his bout with Paul: “First of all, I will show what I can do now that everything is in the right place in my life - mentally and physically. I feel rejuvenated and 10 years younger.

“Second, I want to thank MVP [Paul’s fight promoter, Most Valuable Promotions] for taking the risk of fighting me. Unfortunately for their Problem Child, they’re going to have a big problem this June - one they won’t know how to resolve.”

In an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show this week, Chávez Jr. declared: “I want to end Jake Paul’s career.”

Paul vs Chávez Jr. - when, where, how to watch?

Paul and Chávez Jr. face off on Saturday, June 28, at Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The main event ring walks are expected to take place at approximately 11:00 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT.

You can watch the fight live on the subscription streaming service DAZN, which is charging a pay-per-view price of $59.99 in the U.S. This fee also includes access to the entire DAZN platform for seven days.

Paul vs Chávez Jr. - full fight card:

• Jake Paul vs Julio César Chávez Jr. - cruiserweight
• Gilberto Ramírez vs Yuniel Dorticos - cruiserweight
• Holly Holm vs Yolanda Vega - lightweight
• Floyd Schofield vs Tevin Farmer - lightweight
• Avious Griffin vs Julian Rodríguez - welterweight
• Raul Curiel vs Víctor Ezequiel Rodríguez - welterweight
• Naomy Valle vs Ashley Felix - light flyweight

Paul vs Chávez Jr. - betting odds:

Paul is the favorite in the betting, with moneyline odds of -560, per Oddschecker. Chávez Jr. is valued back at +390, while a draw is priced at +1700.

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