The Jake Paul traveling road show makes a stop this weekend at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. This Saturday night he faces Julio Cesar Chavez in the main event. (To be clear, that's Junior, not Senior. He probably won't face the elder Chavez till next year).
Some cynics will cry out that boxing is now a circus. Well, I have to disagree with that notion. Boxing has 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 a circus for awhile. This is actually par for the course nowadays.
Just think about this -- and all due respect to the likes of the sterling Junto Nakatani, the talented Brian Norman Jr, and the hard-nosed Francisco Rodriguez -- but when June is finished you could make an argument that the three most notable boxing matches will have involved Paul, Charleston White (who stopped one of the famed 'Island Boy's, I can tell one from the other) and the Davis' brothers versus Nahir Albright in the locker room.
What does that say about the current boxing malaise, and to go further, the current state of pop culture? But the point is that June has been a relatively tepid one in boxing. To be fair, things heat up in July with a robust schedule chock full of important bouts. But this has been a June swoon for the game.
But this should be made clear: this is no knock on Paul. The guy has actually crafted a boxing career with his adroit matchmaking and sharp marketing skills. And to his credit, has actually helped other careers along. His bout with Mike Tyson was the most talked about boxing event in America last year. This probably makes a lot of purists fume but the truth is the truth.
DAZN
For those of you asking, yes, I will be at the Honda Center to witness this event. Hey, it's my job, it's what I do. Besides, there's nothing better going on. You never know what will happen at these things. Also, this should not be overlooked, there is a full card featuring Golden Boy Promotions clients, who are in some pivotal bouts.
The semi-main features unified cruiserweight titlist, Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez, who takes on the hard-punching, Yunier Dorticos. The challenger at one time was the IBF cruiserweight belt-holder, and truly a dangerous fighter. But in recent years Dorticoas has been dormant, having had just one fight since 2022. Regardless, this should still be an entertaining scrap.
A Ramirez victory may actually lead to a bout with Paul (something that is vehemently endorsed by my '3 Knockdown Rule' partner, Mario Lopez). Personally, I'd much prefer a showdown with the Ring Magazine champion in that division, Jai Opetaia. But the game is the game. And this game is all about risk-vs-reward, and always about money.
Also on this bill is a crossroads match-up between Floyd Schofield Jr. and veteran Tevin Farmer. As of yet, Schofield has not been entered into the emergency room, so as of now, that fight -- unlike his scheduled bout with Shakur Stevenson in Saudi Arabia -- is a go. Farmer showed against William Zepeda (twice) that he can be a thorn in the side for blue chip lightweights.
Rounding out the card are the likes of Raul Curiel (who faces Victor Rodriguez) and highly regarded prospects Joel Iriarte and Joshua Edwards.
So there's a little bit of something for everyone on this card. Kinda like the circus.
3KR
Speaking of the '3 Knockdown Rule', here is this weeks show where Ramirez's trainer, Julian Chua, joined Mario Lopez and I in-studio for a full hour:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfgn8YDKf6E&t=587s
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