Jake Paul is edging closer to fulfilling his goal of becoming a world champion. After his win against former middleweight titleholder Giulio Cesar Chavez Jr., the World Boxing Association (WBA) placed Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) at 14th in their rankings.
Ahead of the match, the WBA indicated that a victory over 28-year-old Chavez (54-7-1) would mean Paul had outboxed him over 10 rounds, securing a unanimous decision at Anaheim’s Honda Center. Meanwhile, Ramirez chose Yuniel Dorticos and defended both the WBA and WBO titles in the co-main event.
Paul now holds the top spot, just ahead of American challenger Craig Parker (20-0, 20 KOs), who claimed a knockout win in a heavyweight bout on April 1st. He’s ranked above Italian Giovanni Christian Scudelli (12-0, 5 KOs), who transitioned from cruiserweight to heavyweight over his last four fights, with his last cruiserweight match dating back to September 2022.
Fan Take: This development is a big deal for fight fans because it shows Jake Paul’s growing legitimacy in boxing, bridging the gap between celebrity and serious contender. If he continues on this path, it could bring fresh excitement and new eyes to the sport, shaking up traditional boxing rankings and narratives.