Jake Paul is back to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr in a 10-round Cruiserweight bout in Aheiem, California. This is Paul’s first bout since he beat Mike Tyson in November on Netflix. Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is defending his WBA and WBO titles against Yuniel Dorticos in the co-main event.
This seven-fight card will air live on DAZN PPV at 8:00 p.m. ET. Here are my two favorite bets for Paul vs. Chavez Jr.
Jake Paul by KO/TKO/DQ (+165)
This is a step up in competition for Paul, but it is still a favorable matchup for “The Problem Child”. Paul is 11-1 in his boxing career with seven knockouts, finishing three of his previous four opponents.
Paul is a -575 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, as Chavez is a +400 underdog. But the better value play is to get Paul to win via KO/TKO/DQ at +165. Paul has followed up each of his decision victories with a knockout.
In this fight, both fighters stand at 6’1″, but Paul has a three-inch reach advantage (76″ vs. 73″). Even though Chavez has 49 more fights in his career, Paul has been the more active fighter lately. Chavez is 39 and last fought in July 2024. Also, Chaevz has only had one 10-round fight in the previous four years. Paul is more accustomed to fighting at Cruiserweight and needs to use his power and speed to control the pace of this fight.
Gilberto Ramirez by KO/TKO/DQ (-115)
The lone championship bout on this card is in the co-main event. The WBA and WBO champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is putting his titles on the line against Yuniel Dorticos. Ramirez is one of the best cruiserweights in the world and could welcome a fight against Paul in the future if he continues to impress.
Ramirez is 47-1 with 30 career knockouts, but has won his three previous fights via unanimous decision. Ramirez last beat Chris Billam-Smith in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Zurdo is -1400 to retain his titles, and Ramirez is -115 to win by knockout.
Ramirez has shown that he can win fights early on and by decision. He has continued to grow as a boxer and has responded well after suffering the first loss of his career in 2022. Dorticos is 27-2, but is not on Ramirez’s level. This is a mismatch, and Ramirez should not need the full 12 rounds to win this bout.
