Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has offered his outlook on the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua showdown—and his answer may surprise traditionalists.
Chavez Jr., who last shared the ring with Paul, took to Instagram to make his prediction as the December 19 bout approaches.
The former WBC middleweight champion didn’t mince words, posting a short forecast in his Stories that quickly made the rounds online: “Paul by UD.” In other words, Chavez Jr. believes Jake Paul will defeat Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision, according to Boxing News Online.
The event, which will be streamed live on Netflix from Miami’s Kaseya Center, has already sparked debate across the boxing world. Joshua enters the fight as a two-time heavyweight champion and 2012 Olympic gold medalist, while Paul continues his controversial rise from YouTube star to legitimate boxing draw.
The contest is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds with standard 10-ounce gloves.
Paul’s résumé in the ring remains unconventional. Across 13 professional fights, he has competed mainly outside the traditional heavyweight ranks. His only bout in that division came against Mike Tyson, who was 58 years old and returning after nearly two decades away from sanctioned competition.
Since then, Paul has fought at cruiserweight, including his unanimous decision victory over Chavez Jr.—a performance that appears to have left a lasting impression on his former opponent.
Joshua, meanwhile, is coming off a difficult stretch. His most recent fight took place in September 2024, when he was knocked down multiple times before being stopped inside five rounds by Daniel Dubois during their IBF heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium.
That loss raised questions about where Joshua stands late in his career, especially as he now prepares for a high-profile bout outside the traditional championship track.
The card itself is expected to draw a massive global audience, bolstered by Netflix’s reach and a co-main lineup featuring unified super-featherweight champion Alycia Baumgardner and undisputed bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson.