Jake Paul faces another former champion from a bygone era this weekend when he steps into the ring with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. [From 2011 to 2012, Chavez was the WBC middleweight champion. Paul vs. Chavez will be at cruiserweight]. The boasts and promises from ‘The Problem Child’ are consistent as ever heading into battle as he once again vowed to deliver an emphatic victory whoile also maintaining that the day will come when he becomes world champion. For that to happen, this latest path on that quest, must be one that Paul handles impressively, but is he capable of disposing of Chavez Jr in a vicious and simple manner? The answer is simple – he has to if his boxing credentials are ever to be taken seriously.
Paul’s improvements, notable ones that some boxing traditionalists will not admit, have been identified in recent years as his time in the gym under solid tutelage has seen him master some old crafts that have helped in certain situations. At the level he operates at, against fellow novices or boxing neophytes, Paul looks comfortable under pressure, he knows how to smother and spoil, and he is not afraid to let his hands go. That has allowed him to dominate certain fighters, but never enough to make observers fully back him when the going might get tough.
Paul had his backers when he takes on the likes of Mike Tyson, age 58 at the time, and a man who had been inactive for the best part of 20 years. Now with Chavez Jr, a former middleweight ruler now intent on doing as little as possible in the ring, will those supporting his chances of victory at this echelon of the sport consider him a threat against any current ranked contender? Ask plenty in the know and they will tell you that numerous former world champions, inactive for many years, would be too smart and experienced for Paul. Numerous spats with Carl Froch and Tony Bellew have created speculation the retired Brits could one day be opposing Paul in the ring, and there would be many backing the previous world champions.
Take that forward a few spaces and assess the current world champions around the cruiserweight division Paul operates in. Who do you see who Paul could defeat, or even be competitive against?
Jai Opetaia? Zurdo Ramirez? Dmitry Bivol? Artur Beterbiev? A lengthy list of dangerous men sit comfortably in the positions Paul believes he is capable of filling, and they do not appear to be going anywhere just yet. What about the contenders a level below, who are more than capable of getting their hands on a world title anywhere between light-heavyweight and the land of boxing’s giants? Chris Billam-Smith? Anthony Yarde? Viddal Riley? Is this an area where Paul is targeting?
One that could realistically aid his world title hopes, or is his current strategy of targeting marketable greats from yesteryear enough to quench his fighting thirst?
If it is the former, then Paul must start proving that. Tyson, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz have all taken Paul the distance in recent bouts. If the popular Ohioan can end Chavez Jr’s hopes before the final bell, something Canelo Alvarez could not manage, then he will every right to dream bigger.
Paul will always have his doubters in boxing, the toughest of sports, but he also holds the power to convince them his aspirations are genuine and that must start this Saturday night.
