Jake Paul defeats Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in Anaheim, crowd boos despite competitive fight
Photo: AFP
Jake Paul secured a win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday night, 28 June 2025, in Anaheim, despite being met with loud boos from the crowd throughout the bout. The event marked Paul’s most significant challenge yet in his boxing career and broke the gate record at the Anaheim Center.
Jake Paul gets booed after defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision pic.twitter.com/EFRaI38nDo
Chavez Jr, a former middleweight world champion, entered the ring to an enthusiastic reception. By contrast, Paul, alongside his brother Logan, was booed by the largely pro-Chavez crowd. Paul, coming off a high-profile bout with Mike Tyson, had framed the fight as a step toward cruiserweight world title contention.
Early rounds saw Paul pressing the action, using his size and reach advantage to keep Chavez Jr on the back foot. Though both fighters were cautious in exchanges, Paul landed the more effective shots and dictated the pace. Chavez, while composed, struggled to find openings and threw few punches in the opening rounds.
The fight shifted slightly in the middle rounds. Chavez showed signs of resurgence in the fourth and landed a strong combination in the fifth, momentarily energising the crowd. However, Paul responded with a well-timed counter, maintaining control of the contest.
By the halfway mark, momentum appeared to favour Paul, although the result remained uncertain. Chavez’s late activity was not enough to turn the tide fully, and the judges awarded Paul the decision.
Despite the victory, the crowd voiced disapproval, suggesting the performance had not won over sceptics. Paul, however, achieved his goal of advancing toward a cruiserweight ranking.