Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Jake Paul has his finger on the pulse of boxing entertainment.

It’s taken him a mere five years to acquire the skill that has catapulted him to the top of the boxing promotion food chain.

He did it by betting on himself.

First, he knocked out a former NBA star, then picked on former MMA champions, and recently defeated the legendary heavyweight “Iron” Mike Tyson. Their confrontation raked in more than $17 million at the gate and was watched by an average of 108 million viewers.

Staggering.

Once again Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) is betting on himself as he tangles with a former boxing world champion in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, June 28. DAZN pay-per-view will stream the Golden Boy Promotions and MVP card.

“I like big names, legendary names, and he’s on my path to a world championship,” said Paul at the press conference in Anaheim.

Fighting a former world champion boxer can be daunting.

Chavez, 39, has fought at the highest levels of the sweet science that includes wins over Ireland’s Andy Lee, Marco Antonio Rubio and Peter Manfredo. And then there were losses against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Daniel Jacobs and Sergio Martinez.

He has never been knocked out.

“I don’t think he’s a good boxer, and everybody knows that,” said Chavez Jr.

Of course, his father is the great Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez and Junior possesses the same granite chin.

But, Chavez has always had one glaring weakness and that was a lack of hunger. Training like a maniac was never his calling. He mostly got by on natural talent such as knockout power in either fist and a jaw of iron.

He and his brother Omar grew up in Riverside, Calif. and began training as boxers when they were pre-teens. They traveled back and forth to Culiacan, Mexico and the Inland Empire and are at home in either country.

Ironically, they trained in the same gym in Mira Loma, Calif. where Jose “Chepo” Reynoso would send his fighters to train with Willy Silva. Fighters such as the late Javier Jauregui would stay and prepare for big fights in the USA. Later, Reynoso would bring Canelo Alvarez but not to train. It was this same gym that the Chavez brothers would do their initial preparation in boxing.

Being able to fight in the prize ring has always meant a pay day. And when Paul arrived on the boxing scene Chavez saw an opportunity to make big money and lobbied for this fight. Now it’s within his grasp.

Paul had a different path.

The Cleveland native has natural physical attributes such as strength in his punches, a good chin and an inner drive to accomplish feats that others with his fan following never dared contemplate. Plus, his work ethic seems off the chart.

He truly can fight. It’s not pretend boxing. Though he’s not polished to perfection like a Floyd Mayweather or honed into a killing machine like a David Benavidez, he possesses natural strength that cannot be taught.

Paul is the opposite of Chavez.

“This is a tough test, a 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,” said Paul.

A big win could lead to a title match. Could.

Zurdo’s Challenge

Mexico’s Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs) defends the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles against Cuba’s Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs) in the co-main event.

Ramirez, 34, began as a super middleweight in 2009 and never lost at that weight class. He moved up to light heavyweight and suffered his only loss to Dmitrii Bivol in 2022. But a move to cruiserweight surprisingly turned out to be a perfect fit for the Mexican from Mazatlan.

“Dorticos is a power puncher with good footwork, and I know he can be dangerous at any point of the fight,” said Ramirez about his challenger. “I’ve trained like I would for any fight, and I’ve never taken an opportunity for granted. I know this fight can change his life and I expect him to bring his best on fight night.”

Dorticos has only two losses but those came to outstanding fighters in Murat Gassiev and Mairis Breidis. His last loss occurred five years ago.

“He has to show up on Saturday. On Saturday, we’re going to have a war,” said Dorticos.

Others on the card include Floyd Schofield, Tevin Farmer, Holly Holm, Yolanda Vega, Raul Curiel, Joel Iriarte and more. Doors open at 12 p.m. Main card begins at 5 p.m.

Canada Fights

Christian Mbilli (28-0, 23 KOs) meets Maciej Sulecki (33-3, 13 KOs) on Friday, June 27, at Centre Videotron in Quebec City in Canada. ESPN+ will stream the Eye of the Tiger Promotions and Top Rank card.

Mbilli has become the boogie man of the super middleweight division. The French native fights out of Canada and impressed and woke up the competition with a strong win over Sergii Derevyanchenko last August in Canada.

Now Mbilli faces Sulecki of Poland who lost to Diego Pacheco last year and whose two other losses were against world champions.

Deontay in Wichita

Deontay Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) returns one year after losing by knockout and faces Tyrrell Herndon (24-5) on Friday, June 27, at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas. The Global Combat Collective card will be shown on PPV.Com

Wilder is one of the more popular American heavyweights of the past 20 years. Though he lost to China’s Zhilei Zhang on June 2024 and to Joseph Parker in December 2023, the heavyweight from Alabama still carries popular support. He is also one of the most potent punchers in history of the division.

Can he restart his career?

Herndon has knockout power, but he can also be knocked out. His last loss came against Olympian Richard Torrez Jr. in October 2023.

Fights to Watch

Fri. ESPN+ 3 p.m. Christian Mbilli (28-0) vs Maciej Sulecki (33-3).

Fri. PPV.Com 6 p.m. Deontay Wilder (43-4-1) vs Tyrrell Herndon (24-5).

Sat. DAZN ppv 5 p.m. Jake Paul (11-1) vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1); Gilberto Ramirez (47-1) vs Yuniel Dorticos (27-2); Holly Holm (33-2-3) vs Yolanda Vega (10-0); Floyd Scholfield (18-0) vs Tevin Farmer (33-8-1).

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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