Jake Paul nearly made good on his Thursday press conference promise, defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision. He took the cards 99-91, 97-93 and 98-92 in cruiserweight action Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) failed to find the knockout over Chavez (54-7-1, 34 KOs), but his volume, speed and activity were enough to outlast the charismatic star.

Although Paul wasn’t his regular self, he told Ariel Helwani in the ring post-fight it’s something to build off.

“He’s a tough, tough guy,” Paul said. “Never been stopped. He’s a Mexican warrior. I respect Mexican warriors. I respect Mexico, but I’m also a warrior and I came out on top.”

As for what’s next for Paul, the sky’s the limit in his mind.

“I want tougher fighters,” Paul said. “I want to be world champion.”

Paul said he expects to return sometime later this year to remain active.

“I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime, any place.”

Chavez was gracious in defeat as he joined Paul in the ring.

“He’s not ready for the champions, but he’s a good fighter,” Chavez said.

Here’s how the fight played out.

Round 1 was a slow start for Paul and Chavez. While Paul circled and found a home for his jab, Chavez failed to land a single strike. Round 2 was much of the same, as Paul continued to feel out the Mexican legend.

Rounds 3-7 were extremely taxidermical from Chavez, as Paul found the punches he wanted, each an exact microcosm of the one before it.

By Round 10, Chavez had picked up the pace in the previous two rounds with a few clean combinations, but nothing startling to spring a comeback.

Paul doesn’t care who he fights next, but he reminded his lone nemesis, Tommy Fury (11-0, 4 KOs), to “stop running,” teasing a possible rematch.

-Field Level Media

–Field Level Media