Redemption or Ruin? Julio César Chávez Jr. Returns from Rehab to Face Jake Paul in Explosive Summer Showdown

After years of personal turmoil, Chávez Jr. steps back into the ring to take on boxing’s most controversial YouTuber.

Just days after the rumor spread across social media, Jake Paul’s team has confirmed that his next opponent will be former Mexican world champion Julio César Chávez Jr.—a matchup that promises to be a serious trial by fire for the influencer-turned-boxer.

The fighter from Culiacán, Sinaloa, returned to the ring just last year (2024) after a three-year break from professional boxing, making his comeback with a unanimous decision victory and improving his professional record to 54 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw. The performance made it clear that he had trained hard and was ready, following turbulent months in his personal life.

Chávez Jr.’s personal life has been marked by a series of highly publicized struggles, including battles with substance abuse, stints in rehab, and erratic behavior that even led to a court-mandated mental health evaluation. In early 2023, he was reportedly placed under psychiatric observation in California after concerns about his well-being were raised by family members, including his legendary father, Julio César Chávez Sr. Over the years, he has also faced criticism for missing weight, lackluster training discipline, and controversial statements on social media.

Now, seemingly focused and back in shape, Chávez Jr. aims to prove he still belongs in the spotlight—and what better way than by taking on one of boxing’s most polarizing new figures in Jake Paul.