Against the odds, Jake Paul has become a legitimate world title contender in 2025.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer has been slammed as a circus act for the majority of his career.
However, things changed when he beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by unanimous decision on Saturday night.
The former WBC middleweight champion was about 10 years past his peak and fighting at an unnaturally high weight. Still, one of boxing’s governing bodies believes Jake Paul‘s win over the Mexican is worthy of a world ranking.
Jake Paul enters cruiserweight top 15
Before Paul beat Chavez Jr., the stakes for their fight were upped by WBA President Gilberto Mendoza.
Boxing journalist Lance Pugmire revealed: “Told by WBA President Gilberto Mendoza that if @jakepaul wins tonight, he will be elevated into the @WBABoxing rankings, making him eligible for a title shot at the champion @ZurdoRamirezz or Dorticos.”
A win officially earned Paul a top 15 ranking and set up an unlikely world title fight in 2025.
The WBA’s latest rankings update shows Paul sitting at number 14 at cruiserweight, one spot above fellow American Craig Parker, who boasts a 20-0 (20 KOs) record.
However, the 28-year-old almost certainly won’t have to worry about fighting his way through the ranks.
Paul’s celebrity status means he can jump the queue and face the WBA cruiserweight champion in a voluntary defense later this year.
Who is the WBA cruiserweight champion?
Gilberto Ramirez beat Yuniel Dorticos over 12 rounds to defend his WBA (Super) and WBO cruiserweight titles on Paul’s latest undercard.
Commonly known as ‘Zurdo’, Ramirez boasts a 48-1 record after mixing it with the very best for years.
Pound-for-pound superstar Dmitry Bivol is the only man to have beaten the 34-year-old as a professional.
Ramirez showed he’s interested in a fight with Paul by facing off with him backstage this past weekend.
Only time will tell if that fight will come together or if Paul will go in a different direction after calling for money fights with Gervonta Davis, Anthony Joshua, and Tommy Fury in the ring after improving his record to 12-1.