JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR revealed he turned down the chance to fight KSI – to instead take on Jake Paul.
The former middleweight world champion returns on Saturday against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul – live on DAZN PPV.
But Chavez snubbed the chance to face Paul’s arch rival KSI – believing Paul was the more lucrative option.
He said: “It’s impossible to explain but everybody wants the best thing for themselves.
“I want the best fights. Jake is popular, Jake he beat Mike Tyson. So Jake wants to fight me.
“I had another fight with KSI, another YouTuber from the UK but I preferred to fight Jake Paul because he’s more popular and a better fighter than KSI.”
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KSI, 32, has not fought since suffering his first defeat as a boxer, losing a controversial decision to Tommy Fury, 26, in October 2023.
He was due to return against MMA star Dillon Danis, 31, in March before pulling out with illness.
KSI’s manager Mams Taylor – co-founder of Misfits Boxing – claimed they walked away from a deal to fight Chavez to focus on other opponents.
Paul, 28, meanwhile is coming off a victory over Mike Tyson in November in a bout marred in controversy amid the age gap.
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Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr
JAKE PAUL’S controversial boxing career rolls on this weekend with the Problem Child facing boxing royalty in Anaheim, California.
Paul will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, a highly-decorated former world middleweight champion.
The Mexican, 39, has fought just once in the last four years but has the best boxing resume of any fighter to step into a ring with Paul – bar Mike Tyson, who was aged 58 at the time they fought.
Watch Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr LIVE on DAZN PPV
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Tyson returned at 58 after 20 YEARS out of the sport to lose a decision – with over 100 MILLION watching on Netflix.
Paul revealed:”Mike even taught me some things in the ring.
“He was hard to hit that head movement off the centre and he had a lot of power, which is why I had to be careful in there, so I just fought a smart fight.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
