Jake Paul’s got the kind of right hand that makes grown men forget their kids’ names—but the engine powering that cannon is still suspect. Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) earned a unanimous decision over Julio César Chávez Jr. on Saturday, but if he wants to beat the cruiserweight division’s top dogs, “The Problem Child” will need to fix his stamina problem.
Chávez Jr. appeared intimidated by Paul’s power for the first nine rounds, despite the support of his loyal Mexican fans cheering him on. He made his usual last-round hurrah to justify to the promoter and commission that he had earned his check, but for the most part, he offered little resistance. Without a willing dance partner, Paul relied on a classy jab to set up some thudding right hands to the body.
When the adrenaline fades and the muscles swell with lactic acid, Paul’s explosive arsenal tends to jam. Against Chávez Jr., he clung to Smokey like a man overboard grasping for a life preserver in the final two rounds. Chávez looked noticeably shopworn and arguably shouldn’t have lasted the distance.
| Jake Paul Tale-Of-The-Tape |
|
| Division |
Cruiserweight |
| Ht. |
6’1″ |
| Age |
28 |
| Reach |
76″ |
| Record |
12-1 (7 KO’s) |
| Rank Boxrec |
#69 |
| Pound-4-Pound Boxing Rankings Rating |
7.5 |
Jake Paul Boxing News & Odds
Paul could open as the favorite over Jack
If we’re talking about a matchup with WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack, don’t be surprised if Jake Paul opens as the betting favorite due to his immense popularity. ESPN BET boxing odds would likely open Paul -115. Jack’s 41. He’s slick, smart, and a ring general but there’s not much tread on those tires. Paul, for all his inexperience, brings clubbing power and physical strength Jack hasn’t seen in years.
Now, bring up Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez or Jai Opetaia, and that’s a different headline entirely. Paul has opened as a hefty +550 underdog against WBO champ Zurdo Ramirez at mybookie.ag. Zurdo looked flat early against Yuniel Dorticos and appeared bothered by Dorticos’ power, but he made the necessary adjustments and took control as the fight progressed. That’s the kind of veteran savvy Jake doesn’t have yet.
Jake Paul is no fool. He might go down as the most self-promoted athlete since Muhammad Ali, whose birthday he shares. But if he’s as smart as he seems, he’ll bring in someone like Milton LaCroix, the brash New York fight whisperer who had Jake’s older brother ready to face Floyd Mayweather after just a year and a half of training. Milton has also been the brain trust behind Teofimo Lopez’s resurgence. He doesn’t just teach boxing; he teaches how to stay relaxed.
However, before facing Jai Opetaia, Paul will need to address his stamina issues, defensive holes, and overall inexperience. Opetaia, is a polished southpaw with elite stamina and big-time power. LaCroix specializes in refining fighters’ defense and teaching them to jab off the hip with precision, the very style Paul favors. That kind of fine-tuning will be essential for Paul if he hopes to be ready to take on someone of Opetaia’s caliber. Paul would be a huge 15-to-1 boxing odds dog against ESPN2 News #12 ranked pound-4-pound entrant Opetaia.
Jake Paul’s still raw, no doubt—but with that explosiveness, smarter pacing, and the right corner behind him, we’re backing ‘El Gallo’ to grab that pretty WBC belt within a fight or two.
