Jake Paul brought a touch of nostalgic showmanship to his latest weighin, quoting bowling icon Pete Weber.
The scene unfolded Friday, June 27, during the official ceremonial weighin for Paul‘s upcoming professional boxing match against Mexican boxing great Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
As cameras rolled, the 28-year-old influencer-turned-athlete dropped the line, “Who do you think you are? I am!” instantly connecting two very different worlds of competitive sports.
Pete Weber’s famous outburst
That outburst first occurred on February 26, 2012, at the U.S. Open in North Brunswick, New Jersey.
There, Pete Weber had just sealed his recordbreaking fifth U.S. Open title by a razor-thin one-pin margin over Mike Fagan. At the moment of triumph, Weber erupted:
“Yes, goddamn it, yes! That is right, I did it! Number five! Are you kidding me?! That’s right! Who do you think you are? I am! Damn it right!”
Initially dismissed as a freakish celebration, the moment quickly turned iconic, turning into a catchphrase that transcended the lanes.
Fans began yelling it back, and athletes across sports have since reprised it in their own moments of glory.
Embracing crosssport references to boost hype
Paul‘s boxing career has been built on more than just punches; promotion and storytelling have been his true calling cards.
He’s never been shy about leaning into theatrics, entrance themes, Florida mansions, and leading social media narratives around his fights.
Using Weber‘s time-tested tag so late in the leadup to his bout signals that he’s maintaining momentum through playful cultural callbacks.
It remains to be seen whether this alternative hype strategy will help fill seats or sell payperview buys when Paul steps in the ring.
But savvy observers note that fighters who engage in lighthearted quotes, particularly those referencing other subcultures, are more memorable than rivals who stick strictly to trash talk.
So far, Paul‘s tactic appears to serve its purpose: blowing air through boxing’s media echo chamber, making the upcoming bout feel like more than just another undercard.
What’s at stake for Paul and Cesar Chavez Jr.
Paul aims to build on the recordsetting momentum he established with the Tyson victory, both in gate revenue and streaming viewership.
A decisive win over Chavez Jr. could earn him a spot in world cruiserweight rankings by the WBA and WBC, paving the way for future championship opportunities.
Rumors even suggest potential megafights against Canelo Alvarez or Gervonta Davis on the horizon.
For Chavez Jr., the fight is a critical chance to revisit his former glory, with the 39-year-old openly stating, “Yes [I’m motivated to end Paul’s career] … I still think that I’m better than Jake Paul,” on Ariel Helwani’s podcast.
A highprofile upset for Paul would shake boxing’s influencerdriven era and validate the legacy of the Chavez name, while a loss for Chavez Jr. would be career ending.
“Yes, man. If I lose I won’t fight again. Imagine if I lose to Jake Paul? It’s gonna be embarrassing, ” he previously stated through translators.
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