Jake Paul will make his long-awaited return to action later TONIGHT (Sat., June 28, 2025) to take on the much older Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. inside Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., in a 10-round Cruiserweight boxing match, streaming live online via DAZN PPV. In the co-main event, Gilberto Ramirez will face Yuniel Dorticos, a high-stakes Cruiserweight title fight where Ramirez defends his unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight belts against a formidable former champion, potentially paving the way for a blockbuster unification bout with IBF titleholder, Jai Opetaia (or “El Gallo”), while Dorticos aims to reclaim world champion status and upset Ramirez’s path to undisputed glory.
What’s Hot:
Paul’s boxing journey is alive and well. He is coming off a “win” over Mike Tyson — but not the Tyson we all know and love — and has a record of 11-1. People are still trashing Paul for hand-picking opponents rather carefully, and facing an over-the-hill “Iron Mike” didn’t do him any favors with fight fans. Now, he will attempt to secure consecutive win No. 6 as he takes on a former world champion in the form of Chavez Jr., son of the one of the best boxers in the history of the sport, Julio Cesar Chavez.
Let’s not get it twisted, the name doesn’t exactly match his father’s resume and productivity inside the ring, but it’s not like Chavez Jr. was a scrub. He did start of his career with a record of 46-0-1 and won WBC’s Middleweight title in 2011 before coughing it up to Sergio Martinez after three defenses. Since then, he has gone 8-5, losing a couple of high-profile fights to Canelo Alvarez and Anderson Silva. (Yes, that Anderson Silva). Currently on a two-fight win streak with his last victory coming against Uriah Hall, Chavez Jr. is out to become the first person to knockout Paul. Had it been 10 years ago, I would say he had a good shot. But, let’s face it, he is not the same fighter he once was. Sure, he still has technique, but will the speed and power be there? That’s to be determined.
We all know Paul’s game: Select a fighter who people know, but isn’t exactly in his prime, and pay him a lot of money to take part in his circus. And it’s a profitable circus at that, but still a circus at the end of the day. A win over Chavez Jr. won’t put Paul in the pantheon of all-time greats, but you can bet your bottom dollar he will act like it did. A win over Paul won’t exactly be the catalyst for Chavez Jr. to start a championship run, either, but he will at least likely get paid handsomely and have some sort of bragging rights for taking down one of the most popular social media personalities ever.
How The ‘Prelims’ Look:
In a 126-pound fight, Victor Morales (20-0-1), will battle Renee Alvarado (34-16). Fighting under the Golden Boy banner, Morales has 10 knockouts on his resume, as the 27-year-old has shown promising potential for Oscar de La Hoya and Co. That said, this matchup just screams layup. Alvarado has lost eight of his last 10 fights, so it’s pretty clear this is nothing more than a chance for Morales to showcase his talents further.
Alexander Gueche (7-0) will face vs Vincent Avina (8-1-1) in a fight that will be contested at 118 pounds. Gueche is a two-time national amateur champion with five knockouts earned thanks to his blistering speed. As for Avina, he is searching for his first-ever knockout win.
In a 147-pound tilt, Joel Iriarte (7-0) will put his undefeated record on the line when he battles Yusuph Metu, who is coming in with an 11-2 mark. Iriarte has only been fighting as a professional for a year, but has quickly racked up the wins and impressed everyone as the 22-year-old has knocked out all of his opponents. As for Metu, he is fighting out of Tanzania and is looking to make a name for himself by collecting the biggest win of his career.
In women’s 108-pound action, Naomy Valle (14-0) will face Ashley Felix (7-3). Valle has nine knockouts and became WBC’s Youth World Champion in 2025. She will look to keep her ascension going as she battles Felix, the up-and-coming Mexican-born fighter looking for a major upset to get her name on boxing’s map.
Who Needs A Win Badly:
Tevin Farmer is currently on a three-fight losing streak with his last win coming in March 2024. He will be taking on Floyd Austin — who is undefeated (18-0) — in a 135-pound bout. Unlike UFC, a boxer doesn’t get cut if they go on a horrid losing streak, so he will have future fights if he loses his fourth in a row. His paychecks, however, will likely get smaller.
Interest Level: 7/10
Ramirez is without a doubt the most established boxer on the card. With a record of 47-1, Ramirez is the current WBA and WBO Cruiserweight champion and his lone loss came against Dimitri Bivol, so the man is battle-tested. He has 30 knockouts on his resume and is out for more against Dorticos, a Cuban-born boxer known as “Doctor KO.” Dorticos is on a three-fight win streak and has 25 knockouts in 27 victories, so the nickname is appropriate.
However, attempting to clean Ramirez’s clock will be a tall task to say the least.
In another intriguing bout, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s Bantamweight champion, Holly Holm, will return to where it all began as she will take part in her first boxing match in more than 12 years and was last seen defeating Mary McGee via unanimous decision to retain her IBA female and WBF female Light Welterweight titles in May 2013.
Holm put her boxing career on hold to focus on her mixed martial arts (MMA) career, eventually making her Octagon debut in 2015 and eventually capturing UFC’s women’s Bantamweight title by knocking out Ronda Rousey via head kick at UFC 193 nine months later (see it again here). Things quickly went downhill for “The Preacher’s Daughter,” though, going onto cough up her title to Miesha Tate, her first of three straight defeats. She ended her career after that with a run of 5-4-1 and eventually parted ways with UFC earlier this year. Now, she will attempt to get her boxing groove back as she takes on Yolanda Vegas, who is 10-0 The Mexican-born fighter is 29 years of age and is hoping to lock down a breakout win over one of the most accomplished female combat athletes of all time.
In 147-pound action, Avious Griffin will battle Julian Rodriguez. Griffin has 12 knockouts on his resume and is on a 13-fight win streak. The 31-year-old will look to keep his ascension going against Rodriguez, who was a 2012 U.S. National Championships silver medal winner and was an alternate for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Raul Curiel vs. Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez will kick off DAZN’s main card in another 147-pound matchup. Curiel is undefeated (15-0) with 13 knockouts and fights under the Golden Boy Promotions banner and participated in the 2006 Olympics. As for Rodriguez, he is also undefeated (16-0) and has a chance to make a statement here an elevate his stock as the winner becomes the mandatory challenger for WBA’s world Welterweight title.
Enjoy the fights!
Full ‘Paul vs. Chavez Jr.’ Fight Card:
Paul vs. Chavez Jr. DAZN PPV Main Event: (11 p.m. ET)
200 lbs.: Jake Paul (11-1) vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1)
Paul vs. Chavez Jr. DAZN PPV Main Card: (8 p.m. ET)
200 lbs.: Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (47-1) vs. Yuniel Dorticos (27-2)
132 lbs.: Holly Holm (33-2-3) vs. Yolanda Vega (10-0)
135 lbs.: Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield (18-0, 12) vs. Tevin Farmer (33-8-1)
147 lbs.: Avious Griffin (17-0) vs. Julian Rodriguez (23-1)
147 lbs.: Raul Curiel (15-0-1) vs. Victor Ezequiel Rodriguez (16-0-1)
Paul vs. Chavez Jr. YouTube ‘Prelims’ Card: (3 p.m. ET)
126 lbs.: Victor Morales (20-0-1) vs. Renee Alvarado (34-16)
118 lbs.: Alexander Gueche (7-0, 5) vs Vincent Avina (8-1-1)
147 lbs.: Joel Iriarte (7-0) vs. Yusuph Metu (11-2)
108 lbs.: Naomy Valle (14-0) vs. Ashley Felix (7-3)
For the latest “Paul vs. Chavez Jr.” news and notes click here.
