JAKE PAUL has put his boxing career into the hands of esteemed trainer Theo Chambers – the man who once wanted nothing to do with him.
Chambers – nicknamed Third – comes from the legendary Kronk gym in Detroit made famous by iconic trainer Emanuel Steward.
The coach has worked with world champions like Andre Dirrell and Cornelius Bundrage – and most importantly J’Leon Love.
Love – a former super-middleweight contender from Floyd Mayweather’s Las Vegas gym – has been part of Paul’s camp since his professional debut.
And the assistant coach tried to recruit Chambers to join the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s team.
But Chambers told SunSport: “I said no! I was training world class fighters, ranked fighters.
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“I mean, at the time when he said YouTube, I didn’t even know what that meant. And then when I actually found out what it meant, then I really wasn’t.”
Eventually, Love persuaded Chambers to watch Paul’s 2022 victory over UFC legend Anderson Silva.
And after Paul took Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy the distance a year later – despite losing a split-decision – he was convinced to accept the gig.
Chambers said: “Every fight that Jake had, J’Leon was there so he would always call me before the fights. ‘Hey, watch it on TV, watch it, watch it.’
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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.
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“And you know, because I love J’Leon, he’s my brother and I’ve been training him since he was 15 years old, so I watched the kid.
“And it ain’t so much me looking at skill-wise, it’s where’s his heart? Where’s his passion at to even be a boxer.
“But when he fought Anderson Silva, that’s what let me know that he had it in him.
“Then when he fought Fury, even, even in his loss with Fury with me he won.
“So then when they came back around to me, ‘Would you train Jake?’ I said yes I will train Jake.”
Paul parted ways with former coaches BJ Flores and Danny Smith after defeat to Fury – with Chambers hired as the replacement.
He has cornered Paul to five victories on the spin since – most recently against Mike Tyson who controversially came out of retirement aged 58 in November.
Paul, 28, now returns on Saturday against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 39, back down at cruiserweight.
Victory could see Paul handed a shock WBC ranking – putting him in line to challenge for Badou Jack’s belt.
Chambers said: “I like to be challenged. So I like my guys to be challenged. These MMA guys, they do not stand a chance with Jake Paul.
“So I would like to see him fight guys like Chavez, guys like Badou Jack.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
