Jake Paul returns to the ring Saturday night opposite Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in the main event of a DAZN boxing pay-per-view card in a cruiserweight bout at Anaheim, Calif.
Paul, 28, last competed in November, defeating former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in a Netflix attraction.
Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) did not take kindly to Chavez’s antics before their Thursday press conference. Chavez (54-6-1, 34 KOs) had a shirt made to mock the Ohio native, alongside a piece of paper predicting a decisive knockout victory.
Gamesmanship aside, Paul said he is grateful to face someone of Chavez’s stature and expects the best version of the Mexican icon.
“He’s a great fighter,” Paul said. “I like big names. I like legendary names. He’s on my path to a world championship. He’s a tough test, a very, very tough test, but I’m here to challenge myself and do big things in this sport and then make a title run after I beat him on Saturday.”
Chavez, 39, quickly discredited Paul’s track record, keeping it short and simple.
“No, I don’t think he’s good,” Chavez said. “I think he tries (and) trains hard, but he’s not a good fighter. If he were a good boxer, everyone on this stage would be a legend. Everybody knows that.”
Chavez was considering giving himself an ultimatum: a possible retirement if he loses to Paul. Chavez remains extremely confident that he is going to be the first person to knock out the former YouTube star.
“I always prepare to take a win,” Chavez said. “I’m here to win, that’s why I am very confident I’m going to take the win.”
Meanwhile Paul went as far as to predict how he would prevail Saturday night.
“I’m gonna knock him out. That’s what I came here to do,” Paul said. “First round, it’s gonna be an early night. It’s gonna be a right hook right away and I’m going home early. We don’t get paid for overtime. This is gonna be a spectacular performance.”
Paul and Chavez are scheduled to get underway after 11 p.m. ET, concluding a seven-fight card.
–Field Level Media
