Jake Paul Earns Official WBA Cruiserweight Ranking After Victory Over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Jake Paul’s boxing career just took a significant leap forward as he officially enters the World Boxing Association’s cruiserweight rankings, landing at No. 14 following a major win.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer added a new level of legitimacy to his fighting journey by earning a unanimous decision win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. this past Saturday in Anaheim, California. The bout, which took place at the Honda Center, was promoted under Paul’s own Most Valuable Promotions banner, continuing his trend of self-managed, high-profile events.

Now sitting at 12-1 in his professional career, Paul’s momentum is undeniable. His latest victory over Chavez Jr. not only adds a former world champion to his résumé but also fulfills part of his long-stated ambition of earning a shot at a world title. With the WBA now officially recognizing him as a top-15 cruiserweight, Paul is closer than ever to that goal.

The 28-year-old, known as “The Problem Child,” has made remarkable progress since suffering his lone defeat—a close split decision loss to Tommy Fury in February 2023. Rather than let the loss derail him, Paul responded by going on a six-fight winning streak, showcasing both his adaptability and commitment to improving as a professional boxer.

Six months after the Fury loss, Paul returned to the ring with a convincing unanimous decision win over UFC legend Nate Diaz. He then went on to score back-to-back first-round knockouts over Andre August in December 2023 and Ryan Bourland in March 2024, proving his power and timing were sharper than ever.

Paul stayed active throughout 2024, taking on two more opponents. In a high-stakes July bout, he dominated and ultimately stopped bare-knuckle boxing star Mike Perry in the sixth round. Perry had stepped in as a late replacement for boxing icon Mike Tyson, who had to withdraw from the original matchup due to a health scare.

That much-anticipated showdown with Tyson was eventually rescheduled and took place in November. The fight became one of the most talked-about and widely viewed sporting events of the year, streaming exclusively on Netflix. Paul rose to the occasion, putting on a disciplined and controlled performance en route to a unanimous decision victory over the former undisputed heavyweight champion.

With a growing résumé that includes high-profile wins over both MMA legends and seasoned boxers, Paul’s spot in the WBA rankings reflects a shift in perception. No longer just a social media novelty, he’s now being considered a legitimate contender in one of boxing’s toughest divisions.

While there’s still work to do before a world title shot becomes a reality, Jake Paul is undoubtedly closer than ever to that dream. His journey—from YouTube to WBA-ranked cruiserweight—marks one of the most unconventional yet fascinating stories in modern combat sports.

As the boxing world watches with a mix of curiosity and caution, one thing is clear: Jake Paul’s rise isn’t slowing down any time soon.