In a highly anticipated cruiserweight showdown at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, internet sensation turned professional boxer Jake Paul secured a decisive unanimous decision victory over former WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday, June 29, 2025. The judges’ scorecards read 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92 in favor of Paul, extending his winning streak to six fights since his lone professional loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023.
Paul, now boasting a professional record of 12-1 with 7 knockouts, showcased a dominant performance, particularly in the early rounds. According to ESPN, he outlanded Chavez Jr. 140-61 over the course of the 10-round bout, with Chavez Jr. landing 40 of his punches in the final three rounds as Paul appeared to tire. Despite a late surge from the 39-year-old Chavez Jr. (54-7-1, 34 KOs), it was not enough to sway the judges, who consistently awarded rounds to Paul.
The fight held significant implications for Paul’s boxing career. Prior to the bout, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman indicated that a convincing victory over Chavez Jr. could lead to Paul’s entry into the WBC cruiserweight rankings at 200 pounds, moving him closer to his stated goal of fighting for a world title. Paul’s previous high-profile win came against former heavyweight king Mike Tyson in November 2024, a fight that garnered an estimated 65 million global viewers on Netflix, as noted by Variety.
Post-fight, Paul, 28, was unapologetic about his performance, telling the booing Anaheim crowd, "I’m him. I’m really him. I just beat your boy’s ass. Easy work. Wait until I get going even more, motherf***ers. You’ll see." He expressed respect for Chavez Jr., calling him "a tough, tough guy" and a "Mexican warrior" who had never been stopped. Paul then wasted no time in calling out a host of top fighters across multiple weight classes, including unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, IBF belt-holder Jai Opetaia, WBC champ Badou Jack, heavyweight Anthony Joshua, lightweight Gervonta Davis, and a rematch with Tommy Fury. "Zurdo looked slow as sh*t tonight, that’d be easy work, too," Paul declared, adding, "I want everybody. Anthony Joshua. Gervonta. And Tommy (Fury), stop running."
Chavez Jr., who had previously indicated he might retire if he lost, stated his intention to continue fighting despite the defeat. "I lost the first five rounds, so I tried to win the last five rounds," Chavez Jr. said, acknowledging Paul’s skill. "But he’s a good boxer. I felt he was tired, but he’s a good boxer. … I don’t think he’s ready for the champions, but he’s a good fighter." Reports from El Paso Times suggest Paul is expected to earn between $8 million and $10 million from the fight, while Chavez Jr. is looking at $2.5 million.
The undercard also delivered notable action. In the co-main event, Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs) successfully defended his unified WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles against Yuniel Dorticos (27-3, 25 KOs) via unanimous decision (115-112, 115-112, 117-110). Ramirez, 34, expressed his desire to unify further, calling out IBF champion Jai Opetaia. Boxing Hall of Famer and former UFC champion Holly Holm, 43, made a triumphant return to the boxing ring after 12 years, dominating Yolanda Vega (10-1) to win a unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 100-90) in their women’s lightweight bout. Holm, now 34-2-3, indicated she is not retiring and is open to future high-profile fights. Additionally, rising lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 KOs) made quick work of Tevin Farmer, securing a first-round TKO in just 78 seconds, and immediately set his sights on WBC champion Shakur Stevenson.
The event underscored Jake Paul’s continued presence and ambition in the boxing world, as he systematically works towards challenging for a world title, while also highlighting the talent and competitive spirit across the undercard.
