Jake Paul Wins and Other Results

Jake Paul Wins and Other Results at Honda Center

(All Photos by Al Applerose)

Written by Uppercut staff

ANAHEIM, Ca.-Like him or dislike him Jake Paul puts people in the seats.

In front of a near sold out crowd that broke the box office record for an event Paul (12-1, 7 Kos) defeated former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (54-7-1, 34 Kos) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Fighting at cruiserweight Paul jumped out first with a dominating performance for the first five rounds. Using lateral movement and quick-hitting combinations the still learning Paul kept Chavez on the receiving end of his punches. Rarely did Chavez respond with anything dangerous or effective.

It was a one-sided fight during the first half of their fight that filled more than 11,000 people in the stands. A majority of the fans were rabidly in favor of Chavez including the father Mexico’s legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

During Paul’s first 11 fights he had faced a basketball player, MMA fighters, bare knuckle pugilists and a legendary boxer in Mike Tyson in his 50s. Now it was the first time facing a former world champion who was relatively active in Chavez.

It was a major test for Paul who continues to show off new skills and moves every time he enters a prize ring. He also shows less apprehension and decision-making in his attacks and retreats. That knowledge adds to his confidence and makes him a very capable fighter.

During the second half of the fight Chavez opened up and tested Paul’s ability to take a punch and confidence. Both fighters showed very good chins. After 10 rounds neither came close to going down. It was a battle of stamina and Paul had built up a hefty lead in the first five rounds. In the second half the momentum changed but Paul remained on top and won by unanimous decision.

Some of the crowd booed but no one thought it was an unjust decision.

Other bouts

Unified cruiserweight world titlist Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez retained the WBO and WBC belts with a methodic demonstration of boxing skills. The Mexican fighter allowed Cuba’s Yuniel Dortico to attack and attack while he fended off the blows and countered.

Around the fourth round Ramirez made his move and began to force the strong punching Cuban to defend instead of attack. The change of pace caught Dorticio slightly off guard and allowed Ramirez to show off his superior fighting skills.

Dortico mounted a counter-attack late in the fight but was unable to keep Ramirez in front where his powerful rights could cause damage. Instead, Ramirez fired and pivoted around Dortico to neutralize his power. Ramirez retained the championship by unanimous decision.

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (16-0-1, 14 Kos) remained undefeated with a knockout win over Argentina’s strong Victor Rodriguez (16-1-1) who ran into a sneaky right uppercut in the fourth round. Though Rodriguez continued he was overrun by Curiel who continues to move upward in the welterweight rankings.

In a surprising performance Floyd Schofield (19-0, 13 Kos) quickly finished off former world champion Tevin Farmer (33-9-1) in one round with two knockdowns and a flourishing combination. A sizzling right cross crunched Farmer who had battled William Zepeda twice and nearly upset the Mexican knockout artist. Instead, Schofield demonstrated that the lightweight division could be his domain to dominate.

After 12 years in MMA, Holly Holm (34-2-3, 9 Kos) came back to boxing and defeated Mexico’s Yolanda Vega (10-1) by unanimous decision with her same style of hit and move. Now at 43, Holm hit Vega more than she got hit but the damage on her face was more evident. Still, she won by decision. Vega seemed puzzled by the hit and run style but did not look as if she had fought 10 rounds.