Jake Paul Ranked: World Title Shot Possible | Boxing News

Jake Paul Earns World Boxing Assn. Ranking, Eyes Cruiserweight Title Shot

A stunning turn of events has unfolded in the boxing world as Jake Paul, the former Disney Channel star and YouTube personality, has been officially ranked by the World Boxing Assn. (WBA). This advancement makes him eligible to compete for a world title, a prospect once considered highly improbable.

Paul acknowledged the milestone with characteristic humility, stating on X, “I’ve worked hard to get here but there is nothing to celebrate.Long road ahead and I’m more committed to it every single day. I may veer off the path now and again, but being a world champion is my desired ultimate destination.”

From social Media Star to Boxing Contender

Paul’s journey to this point has been anything but conventional. Initially known for his acting roles and massive online following, he entered the boxing arena as a perceived novelty act, facing opponents largely outside the established professional ranks. His record now stands at 12-1, with seven knockouts, accumulated over less than seven years in the sport.

His early career featured bouts against fellow YouTubers, an NBA player, and mixed martial artists. Though, Paul has steadily increased the caliber of his competition, most recently securing a unanimous decision victory over former middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr.This win represents the most significant of his career to date.

Reader question—Do you think Jake Paul’s background as a social media influencer gives him an unfair advantage in the boxing world, or does it simply reflect a new era of sports entertainment? Share your thoughts.

Landmark Victory Over Mike Tyson Fuels Ascent

In the fall, Paul captivated a global audience with a unanimous decision win over 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. The fight drew a peak audience of 65 million viewers on Netflix and generated a record gate of $18,117,072 at AT&T Stadium in arlington, Texas, demonstrating Paul’s undeniable drawing power.

Despite his recent success, Paul has not been without setbacks. His sole defeat came in 2023 against Tommy Fury, a professional boxer and reality TV star. Reflecting on that fight,Paul admitted,“I don’t think I was a fighter at the time.I was barely 2 years into the sport. I didn’t really know what I was doing. I didn’t have the right equipment around me, the right conditioning. My lifestyle outside of the ring was still like that of a youtuber, a famous actor or whatever it was at that point in time. I wasn’t wholly focused on boxing.” He added, “People still hold the Tommy Fury fight against me, but now I’ve beaten a former world champion and I’m coming to collect on that loss to Tommy.”

Did you know?—The cruiserweight division has a weight limit of 200 pounds. Jake Paul has fought at cruiserweight in the past, making this a natural division for him to target for a potential world title.

Eyes on the Champion: A Stare-Down with Ramírez

The current WBA cruiserweight champion, Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, was also in action last weekend, defeating Yuniel Dorticos by unanimous decision. Following their respective victories, Paul and Ramírez engaged in a tense staredown during the postfight news conference, signaling a potential future clash.

Paul wasted no time in expressing his ambition, stating, “I wont tougher fighters. I want to be a world champion.” He also offered a pointed assessment of Ramírez’s performance, adding, “Zurdo looked slow… tonight. That’d be easy work to.”

While Paul’s rapid ascent has been met with skepticism by some, his WBA ranking is a clear indication that he is being taken seriously as a contender. The boxing world now waits to see if this former social media star can truly achieve his ultimate goal: a world championship title.