Paul vs. Chavez Jr. Press Conference!

(May 14th) Today at the Avalon Hollywood Theater in Los Angeles, CA, The Problem Child, Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (11-1, 7 KOs) and Mexico’s former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-6-1, 34 KOs) met face-to-face to preview their highly anticipated Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) bout. This event will air live globally on DAZN pay-per-view on Saturday, June 28, from Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and is presented by CELSIUS Live Fit Essential Energy with Golden Boy Promotions serving as an official licensed promoter. Paul vs. Chavez is also sponsored by Event Ticket Center and Fansly. All tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.

Also in attendance were Golden Boy’s WBO cruiserweight world champion and WBA cruiserweight super champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez (47-1, 30 KOs), who will defend his titles for the first time in June, and former IBF and WBA cruiserweight world champion and current WBA mandatory challenger at 200lbs Yuniel Dorticos (27-2, 25 KOs). Ramirez vs. Dorticos will face off in the co-main event of Paul vs. Chavez Jr.

Hosted by senior sports writer and analyst Chris Mannix, Paul, Chavez Jr., Dorticós, and Ramírez had plenty to say about the upcoming fight. The fighters were also joined on stage by CEO and co-founder of MVP Nakisa Bidarian, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya and Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Other participants included former UFC bantamweight champion and boxing powerhouse, Boxrec’s #2 greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time, Holly “The Preacher's Daughter” Holm (33-2-3, 9 KOs), and one of Mexico’s brightest rising stars, Yolanda “Pitayita” Vega (10-0, 1 KO) who faced off after it was announced that they are the newest signees to Most Valuable Promotions, and will also be joining the Paul-Chavez Jr. card.

For tickets to MVP’s: Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. just  (click here).

Jake Paul

On why facing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was the right fight following the Tyson win:

“This fight has been brewing for quite some time now. The fans have wanted to see this, and I want to continue to elevate and raise the level of my opponents. This is a former world champion, and he has an amazing resume following in his dad’s footsteps [...]. This guy is a great fighter, and I want to test myself against the best in the world.”

On how important it is to do what Canelo could not do and stop Chavez Jr.:

“I’m going to shock the world once again and prove how good and how powerful I am. This is his toughest fight to date, and I’m going to embarrass him and make him quit like he always does.”

On if he wants the best of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.:

“I don’t want any excuses. When I beat this man, all the boxing media, like you always do, are going to discredit it. I’m going to expose and embarrass him. He’s the embarrassment of Mexico. Mexico doesn't even claim him, and he’s going to get exposed on June 28. They say he’s training hard. They say this is the most focused he’s ever been. Good. As he should be. People don’t realize how good I actually am, and when he feels those first few punches, he’s going to want to quit and go back to his stool.”

On if this signals his pursuit of a world title:

“I’ve always said that I’ll fight really tough people and fight big money fights. This is prize fighting, so I’m giving the fans what they want with every single fight by taking on tougher opponents.”

On if he’s thinking about a future matchup with Ramirez if he beats Chavez Jr.:

“Yeah, 100%. This is what I came here to do: to become world champion and create one of the greatest sports stories the world has ever seen. Going from Disney Channel to YouTube to world champion in six to seven years? That’s the most relatable and best sports story that any kid can get behind. I’m here to inspire the next generation and do what no one has ever done before in the world’s hardest sport, and that is boxing.”

On fighting in this type of atmosphere:

“Man, the Mexicans love me. I’m stepping into my home environment. They love me more than they love this guy. Mexico doesn’t even claim him. I love my Mexican fans, and they’ve always been rocking with me since day one. I’m going to show him who the real Mexican warrior is.”

On whether Chavez Jr. will be his very best after getting back in the gym to train:

“That’s not a champion’s mindset. You have a big fight and all of a sudden you start training hard? I train as hard as possible, no matter who I’m fighting, and that shows you the type of person [Julio] is.”

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

On being called an embarrassment and a quitter:

“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. To start off, he’s never knocked anybody out. Give me one name he’s knocked out, just one. It’s like if I fought with my dad. It’s going to be a good fight. When he was born, I was already a champ.”

On what’s different coming into this fight:

“I feel very good. I feel refreshed and renewed. I haven’t taken blows to the head, so I’m a lot better than he is.”

On what he has to do to win:

“I need to prepare 100%. This is an interesting fight. It might not be easy, but I’m going to do the best I can to be the best person I am, but I think I’m going to take him.

On what he can do to Jake Paul:

“He’s never fought anybody like me. Mike Tyson wasn’t even a fighter. He doesn’t know what he’s going to see or what to expect because he’s never seen it before. In boxing, you learn step by step, and he’s missing many.”

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

On what he’s seen differently from his son coming into this fight:

“I’ve never seen him train like this, he’s very focused. With all due respect to Jake Paul, there is no way that Jake Paul can beat my son.”

How does the fight end between your son and Jake Paul

“All fights are difficult. Jake Paul is young and strong, but he’s never faced a fighter like my son. I would’ve given Mike Tyson a better fight. He didn’t throw one punch the whole fight. This time is different. This time, he’s going to get fucked up.”

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez

His reaction when he was presented with this fight

“I’m grateful to be here. It’s a great card, great show. At the end of the day, I’m going to keep my belt, defend my title, and move forward.”

On the challenge Dorticos presents:

“He’s a great challenge. He’s a former world champion. I’m just glad to be here, and on June 28th I will keep my belt. That’s all.”

On how he plans to handle Dorticos’ power:

“I’ve been in the gym and I’ve been training. I think I’ll handle it pretty well. We’ll see and be ready for June 28th.”

On how he’d feel about a showdown with Jake Paul down the line:

“He’s been doing a great job. He has a good challenge, but if he wants the belt, maybe one day. He has to pass the test first.”

Yuniel Dorticos

On how he’s feeling coming into the fight:

“First of all, I want to thank God and everybody who came here to attend this press conference. I want to thank MVP, Golden Boy, and Warrior Boxing. I promise on June 28th, even the angels will shake because the ‘KO Doctor’ is back.”

On if he feels like he’s at his best:

“Yes, on paper it might say I’m 39, but I feel like a young man. I am absolutely grateful for this opportunity, but on June 28th, everybody will know who the KO doctor is.”

On if Ramirez has faced anyone with his [Dorticos] power:

“Well, we’re going to have to see on June 28. He’s fought big guys, but he’s never fought anybody like me.”