Jake Paul to Face Chavez Jr. in High-Stakes June Bout

LOS ANGELES — YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is gearing up for what he calls the “toughest fight” of his career as he takes on former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

“This is his toughest fight to date, and I’m going to embarrass him and make him quit like he always does,” said Paul during a fiery press conference held Wednesday at the Avalon Hollywood Theater.

Paul, 27, boasts an 11-1 record with 7 knockouts and has made his name fighting mostly MMA fighters and retired athletes, including a highly publicized — but criticized — exhibition against Mike Tyson, 58, last year that reportedly drew 60 million Netflix viewers worldwide.

Now, Paul says he’s ready to face a “great fighter” and prove he belongs on the professional stage.

“This guy is a great fighter, and I want to test myself against the best in the world,” Paul said of Chavez Jr., whose professional record stands at 54-6-1 with 34 KOs.

Chavez Jr., 39, dismissed Paul’s resume, calling him “overrated” and promising a reality check on fight night.

“Jake is crazy. I think he’s overrated. He hasn’t fought anybody in his life. On June 28th, he’s going to see what’s up,” the Mexican fighter said.

Adding to the anticipation, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., a legendary three-division world champion and one of Mexico’s most revered sports icons, said his son is sharper than ever.

“With all due respect to Jake Paul, there is no way that Jake Paul can beat my son,” Chavez Sr. told reporters.

The matchup is expected to draw a passionate crowd, especially from Chavez’s Mexican fan base.

“True boxing is, you’re warriors. You’re going to go out there to battle. And that is what Julio Jr. is going to do,” said Mark Solis, a fan from San Dimas, California, who hopes to see Paul knocked out.

But Paul still has his share of believers.

“Not that it’ll be easy, but I think Jake has what it takes to get the win,” said Gabriel Northway, a self-described fan of Paul’s “disruptor” persona.

Analysts agree the fight is set to generate major interest, regardless of outcome.

“People still love boxing, and they still love him,” said sports marketing analyst Bob Dorfman. “You’ve got people who are fans and people who want to see him get his comeuppance. So in that sense, it’ll be a big draw.”

Chavez Jr., who held the WBC middleweight title in 2012, is aiming for redemption after years of criticism over his commitment and recent performances.

The bout is part of Paul’s ongoing effort to shift from celebrity spectacle to serious contender — a transition that will face its toughest test yet in Anaheim.