Three Ways Julio César Chávez Jr. Can Beat Jake Paul

Jake Paul brings hype, youth, and social media clout—but Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. holds the boxing blueprint. Saturday night in Anaheim, CA, they will meet headlining a DAZN pay-per-view. Is this another “joke” fight for Paul or does Chavez Jr. really have a chance at the much heavier 200 lb. limit of cruiserweight?

We take a look at three routes Chávez Jr. can claim victory in this match-up.

Three Ways Julio César Chávez Jr Can Defeat Jake Paul

1. Dictate Tempo with Pro Ring IQ

Jake Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) thrives in fast-paced, hype-filled exchanges, but he’s also benefited from fighters either completely inept at taking the fight to him or being intimated and waiting to get hit.  Chávez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) can counter that by being more aggressive, controlling distance, using feints, snapping the jab, and stepping back into counters. If Chávez picks his moments to move forward and slows the rhythm of Paul, then he becomes easier to hit and you have better success to defend.

2. Sustained Body Attacks

Paul hasn’t seen many fighters bring old-school body pressure. Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. can swing that in his favour. Aiming an attack at the ribs, liver and diaphragm can sap Paul’s stamina throughout a fight. By mid-fight, Paul might be slowing, less explosive, and vulnerable to surprise power shots upstairs. Just like “Mickey” in the corner yelling up to “Rocky,” — “The BODY!” will be an interesting weapon for Chavez Jr.

3. Mental Toughness and Veteran Mind Games

Paul excels at attacking fighters emotionally with social media trash talk and fancy entrances. It’s worked repeatedly. Chávez Jr. has faced tough fighters/fights all his life. If he stays unbothered—deflecting trash talk, counter-punching in the post-fight promo space, and staying cool in the ring, he can potentially frustrate Paul. And a frustrated Paul is a predictable one, who’s easier to beat. Has Chavez shown enough recently that he’s not as focused or mentally tough, as he should be? Sure. But, he only has to “step up” for this one night in Anaheim.

Finally, Julio Cesar Chávez Jr. must stay defensively sound—no dropped hands, no wandering into loops. That’s because Paul’s big right-hand bomb awaits. But, If he can pull off the bodywork, tempo control, and mental patience in combination, he can turn Paul’s hype into frustration and then, we have an intriguing bout.