EXCLUSIVE: Tony Bellew makes big prediction for Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr clash this weekend in what is set to be one of the biggest fights of 2025. 

Paul’s popularity continues to soar away from the boxing ring, but after defeating Mike Tyson at the backend of last year, what has Paul learnt since and will we see it against Chavez Jr? 

In Chavez Jr, Paul will face another former world champion as the Mexican reigned as middleweight world champion in 2011 before losing the belt to Sergio Martinez the following year in a terrific battle. 

Since that defeat, Chavez Jr has endured mixed form with losses to Canelo Alvarez, Danny Jacobs, and more shockingly, Anderson Silva. 

The loss to Silva, a previous UFC fighter, occurred in 2021 and since then Chavez Jr has only fought twice, both victories. 

He enters the fight with Paul a significant underdog, and despite his advantage his experience, Tony Bellew is backing Paul to get the job done. 

The Liverpool man, a former world cruiserweight champion, has long been a critic of Paul and he even gatecrashed his press conference against Tyson accompanied by an elderly gentleman who mocked Paul by challenging him to a fight. 

“If this was Paul against a prime Chavez Jr then it would be an easy night’s work, but it’s a long time since we’ve seen that version,” said Bellew when speaking exclusively to FightLens. 

“The last few years have been tough on Chavez Jr and when I weigh this fight up, I just go back to his fight with Anderson Silva when he was well beaten by a novice boxer without much experience. 

“Chavez Jr may know enough to make this interesting and even have some moments, but Paul is working hard behind the scenes and with the improvements he’s made, I think he will outwork Chavez Jr and take it on the scorecards.”