The controversial fight between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Jake Paul, scheduled for June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, has raised more criticism than enthusiasm within the professional boxing circle.
One of the harshest critics was Juan Manuel Marquez, a legend of Mexican boxing, who not only questioned the sporting value of the fight, but also warned about the consequences of a defeat of “Junior” against the YouTuber turned boxer.
In an interview with ProBox TV, Marquez was blunt: “It would be a disaster. What is going to happen if Julio Cesar Chavez loses? It would be a blow for boxing, because he was practically world champion. It would be an unpleasant news for him and for boxing”. His words reflect the concern about what he considers a direct threat to the credibility of the sport: that a figure without the traditional track record in the ring could beat a former world champion.
A risk with a name and surname: Jake Paul
Marquez did not hide his skepticism about the real conditions of the fight. While he acknowledges that Jake Paul “trains” and has taken boxing seriously in his own way, he recalled that the influencer has not gone through the stages that form a professional fighter: “He is not a fighter who went from amateur to professional, he is not a fighter dedicated 100% to boxing”.
The Mexican former champion’s concern also revolves around possible contractual clauses that may condition Chavez Jr.’s performance, something that, according to him, could further tarnish the image of the fight. “We have to see what is going to happen in the fight, if Junior is going to prepare, if he is going to throw combinations,” he said, leaving in the air the question of how seriously Chavez Jr. will take this opportunity.
A possible rebirth… or the end
Despite his warnings, Marquez also saw the other side of the coin: the possibility that Chavez Jr. will rise again with a solid performance. “It would be the best thing for Chavez Jr. if he were to win, because he would have an important victory against a fighter, in quotes,” he said. In his analysis, a victory would not only restore some credibility, but would open the door to a lucrative rematch that could stabilize his career.
But “Dinamita” was clear in his condition: ethics must come before the show. “In boxing what counts is ethics, professionalism and the credibility of the fighter. That he goes 1000% to win,” he said, stressing the importance of Chavez Jr. remaining true to his training as a professional boxer.
In one of his strongest comments, Juan Manuel Marquez even expressed his desire for this fight to serve to drive Jake Paul away from boxing if he loses. “Imagine if Junior beats him, that he sends him back to make videos on YouTube,” he said with a laugh, although with a serious tone in the background.
Read the full article here
