Bob Arum at 93: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr. Isn’t Even Boxing
Bob Arum has never been one to hold his tongue. The 93-year-old Hall of Fame promoter, known for building the careers of fighters like Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya, and Manny Pacquiao, didn’t mince words in his recent take on the upcoming Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr. bout. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Arum ridiculed the match-up as “not even boxing,” arguing that neither participant reflects the standards of the sport he’s spent a lifetime promoting.
“It’s not boxing,” Arum said with conviction. “I thought Chavez Jr. had retired years ago, and Jake Paul? Come on—he’s not a boxer. He’s a businessman in gloves.”
A Promoter Unfazed by the Spotlight
Arum’s criticism might come across as harsh, but it’s nothing new for the veteran promoter. Throughout his decades in the sport, Arum has never shied away from critiquing fighters, rivals, or even the very business he operates in. But this time, his frustration seems rooted in a deeper concern—the slow erosion of boxing’s legitimacy as celebrity matchups continue to overshadow the real warriors of the ring.
“I’m not saying Jake Paul isn’t smart,” Arum continued. “He’s probably smarter than most of us. But what he’s doing isn’t the sport I’ve promoted all my life. He’s not fighting real fighters—he’s fighting attractions.”
Paul vs. Chavez Jr.: A Show Over Substance
On paper, Jake Paul versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. may have the allure of a legitimate contest. Chavez Jr., after all, once held a world title and boasts a recognizable name passed down from his legendary father. Paul, meanwhile, has carved out a niche in combat sports, selling out arenas and generating massive pay-per-view numbers despite a résumé stacked with non-traditional opponents.
But for boxing purists like Arum, the spectacle doesn’t justify the spotlight.
“Look, Chavez Jr. had potential. But since that Canelo fight in 2017, he’s been half in, half out,” Arum said, referring to the lopsided bout in which Chavez Jr. failed to win a single round. “He’s fought seven times since then, lost nearly half of them, and hasn’t looked motivated in years.”
Chavez Jr.’s most recent appearance in the ring was a decision win against former UFC fighter Uriah Hall in July 2024—a bout that drew more curiosity than respect from boxing fans. That win didn’t reignite his career as much as it reminded everyone how far removed he is from championship form.
Arum’s History with Real Fighters
The contrast between Jake Paul’s carefully curated matchups and the blood-and-guts paths of fighters Arum has promoted couldn’t be starker. From the brutal wars of Arturo Gatti to the technical brilliance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. during his early Top Rank days, Arum has spent decades fostering champions who had to prove themselves the hard way.
“Back in the day, you didn’t get a title shot until you earned it—15 fights in, against hungry guys trying to take your head off,” Arum said. “Now? You get two million followers on TikTok, and suddenly you’re in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden.”
That shift in the sport’s culture doesn’t sit well with him, and Paul’s rise, in particular, seems to exemplify that frustration.
“He knows exactly what he’s doing,” Arum said of Paul. “He’s not taking 50-50 fights. He’s not interested in being tested. He wants to win, look good doing it, and keep the money machine rolling.”
The Tyson Fight: A Breaking Point
For Arum, the moment Jake Paul truly crossed the line wasn’t the Nate Robinson knockout or the close split decision loss to Tommy Fury. It was Paul’s 2024 victory over a 58-year-old Mike Tyson that pushed Arum into outright disgust.
“Tyson is a legend, but that fight was a joke,” Arum said. “It was demeaning—not just to Mike, but to the sport itself. And Jake didn’t care. He knew people would tune in, buy tickets, talk about it for weeks. That’s all that mattered.”
Arum didn’t deny that Paul has a knack for generating buzz. In fact, he gave Paul a backhanded compliment, acknowledging the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s marketing genius.
“He’s a promoter’s dream—if your dream is selling sizzle instead of steak,” Arum quipped.
A Top Rank Challenge
When asked hypothetically about which of his current Top Rank fighters might make a good matchup for Paul, Arum laughed—but then threw out two names: Richard Torrez Jr., the rising heavyweight prospect with an Olympic pedigree, and Artur Beterbiev, the former unified light heavyweight champion known for his frightening knockout power.
“Richard would destroy him,” Arum said. “Beterbiev might send him into retirement. But Jake won’t go near guys like that. He’s too smart.”
It’s true—Paul has carefully selected his opponents, often former MMA stars or aging boxers with name recognition but limited threat. While that strategy keeps him winning and relevant, it has left him open to criticism from boxing traditionalists who want to see merit-based matchups.
“People know what they’re getting,” Arum admitted. “So, in a way, it’s not a scam. But let’s not pretend it’s something it’s not.”
Source: Bob Arum on Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr: “Not even boxing”
The Bigger Picture: What’s at Stake
Arum’s real concern, beneath the gruff soundbites and sarcastic jabs, seems to be about the long-term health of the sport. He’s worried that a generation of fans will come to equate boxing with celebrity exhibitions rather than true competition.
“You’ve got kids growing up thinking Jake Paul is what a boxer looks like,” he said. “Meanwhile, you’ve got hungry fighters busting their asses in gym wars, getting ignored by the media, and scraping by on undercards.”
And he’s not alone. Many inside the boxing world feel similarly, even if they don’t say it as loudly or as bluntly as Arum.
Still, the promoter acknowledges that the sport is evolving—and not always in ways he can control.
“Maybe I’m just old-fashioned,” Arum said, with a rare moment of self-awareness. “But if boxing becomes nothing but circus acts, it won’t survive another generation.”
Will the Fans Care
Despite Arum’s warnings, the Jake Paul vs. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight will likely draw millions in pay-per-view buys, endless social media engagement, and a packed venue. That’s the paradox Arum grapples with: while he sees a mockery, others see entertainment.
And in an era where attention is currency, Paul might just be winning in a way Arum never intended.
“I’m not here to tell people what to watch,” Arum said. “But I’ll say this—if Jake Paul ever wants to prove he’s a real fighter, he knows where to find us.”
Until then, Arum will keep speaking his mind, one unfiltered opinion at a time.
Read More: Thunder’s Jalen Williams Fined $25K Over Profanity on Postgame Shirt