Jake Paul, the former YouTube personality, has entered the world rankings and become eligible for a WBA cruiserweight title shot. Paul achieved this feat after defeating Julio César Chávez Jr. at the Honda Center in Anaheim this past weekend.
Paul won the fight by unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93 after 10 rounds. The victory improved his professional record to 12 wins, 1 loss, with 7 knockouts. This win over Chávez Jr. marks the biggest achievement in Paul's boxing career so far.
Chávez Jr., 39 years old and 11 years Paul's senior, had only fought twice in the last three years. Despite the age and activity gap, the win propelled Paul to the 14th spot in the WBA cruiserweight rankings. This new ranking makes Paul eligible for a shot at the WBA cruiserweight title.
Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez currently holds the WBA cruiserweight belt. Ramírez defended his title against Yuniel Dorticos on the same night Paul fought Chávez Jr.
In the rankings, Paul now sits ahead of Craig Parker (20-0, 20 KOs), who's testing the waters in the heavyweight division. He's ranked just behind Giovanni Cristian Scuderi (12-0, 5 KOs), who's also competing among heavyweights.
Before the fight, WBA President Gilberto Mendoza hinted that a win would land Paul in the top 15. After his victory, Paul, now 28 and in his prime, stated:
"I want tougher fighters. I want to be a world champion."
Paul's entry into the rankings opens up new possibilities for his boxing career. He could potentially face Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez or another willing champion. Given Paul's popularity, any opponent will likely get a hefty paycheck.
Critics point out that Paul's opponents have an average age of 39. His previous fights include bouts against 58-year-old Mike Tyson, Ryan Bourland (who had only fought once in five years), Andre August (only one fight in four years), and now Chávez Jr., who had only one bout in over three years.
Paul's boxing journey has come a long way from his days of YouTube pranks. With a record of 12-1 (7 KOs), his next fight could be a game-changer. Whether it's a title fight against Ramirez or a bout with another contender, Paul's boxing career seems to be on an upward trajectory.
