By Kal Sajad, BBC Sport

Jake Paul continued his unbeaten 2025 boxing run with a dominant decision win over former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, before setting his sights on some of the biggest names in the sport.

The 28-year-old American cruised to a unanimous points victory in California, with judges scoring the cruiserweight bout 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 in his favour. His opponent, 39-year-old Chavez Jr, offered little resistance, spending much of the fight behind a high guard and barely throwing punches.

The crowd at the sold-out Honda Center in Anaheim reacted with boos, to which Paul responded defiantly: “All the boos are just noise. Actions speak louder than words.” He then added, “It was flawless—I think I only got hit 10 times. He’s fought Canelo [Alvarez] and others, and I embarrassed him. Easy work.”

Chavez Jr Fades, Paul Controls the Fight

Chavez, once a world champion at middleweight, looked like a shadow of his former self. From the opening bell, he was tentative, retreating as Paul landed jabs and body shots with increasing ease. His legendary father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, sat ringside visibly frustrated, waving his arms and urging his son to engage.

The Mexican veteran’s lack of intensity drew heavy criticism. Weighed down by years of discipline issues and a reputation for underwhelming performances, Chavez’s display did little to change the narrative. Even when he had brief success in the ninth and tenth rounds—landing a few power shots and raising his hands as if he’d won—it was too little, too late.

By the final bell, Chavez Jr had suffered the seventh loss of his 61-fight professional career. Nonetheless, he indicated he would continue boxing.

Paul Targets Title Shot

With the win, Paul improves to 12-1 as a professional. His only loss came to Tommy Fury in 2023, but he has since racked up wins—including one over 58-year-old Mike Tyson last year—and now says he’s ready to challenge for a world title.

Paul named WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez and WBC titleholder Badou Jack as potential targets, despite the significant gap in experience and competition level. He even mentioned heavyweight Anthony Joshua and lightweight star Gervonta Davis—both far outside his weight class—as dream opponents.

While such names raise eyebrows, Paul may not be far from a title opportunity. The WBC and WBA have both hinted at including him in their rankings. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has said a win over Chavez could merit consideration. Under WBC rules, a fighter must rank within the top 15 to be eligible for a world title shot.

Currently, the 15th-ranked WBC cruiserweight is British champion Viddal Riley, while Olympian Cheavon Clarke sits just behind. Whether Paul deserves a higher place than those names is up for debate—but in today’s influencer-fueled boxing world, attention often matters more than merit.

Boxing Credibility Still in Question

To his credit, Paul has taken the sport seriously. He trains consistently, promotes women’s boxing through his Most Valuable Promotions, and has undeniably introduced new fans to the sport.

But critics argue that victories over aging fighters like Chavez Jr and legends well past their prime—like Tyson—do little to build true boxing legitimacy. If Paul genuinely seeks respect as a contender, he will need to fight active, ranked boxers in their prime.

For now, though, Paul remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions. Whether that translates into a legitimate world title shot remains to be seen—but in the current boxing landscape, anything feels possible.