Jake Paul insists his boxing aspirations are far from complete, even after securing a world ranking within a mere five years of starting his journey in the sport.
The internet personality first began training in 2018 for a white-collar bout and turned professional in 2020 after just one amateur appearance. Now, with only 13 professional fights, including a loss to Tommy Fury, he has been ranked number 14 in the cruiserweight division by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Paul`s ranking has stirred considerable debate within the boxing community, with many arguing that he has yet to defeat a recognized cruiserweight opponent. However, this ranking officially makes him eligible to challenge Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for one of his unified championship belts.
Paul Comments on Achieving WBA #14 Ranking
Jake Paul’s recent points victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday night in Anaheim, California, was not the most prominent or exciting fight of his career. However, the win against a former world champion (albeit at middleweight) in front of a packed Honda Center contributed to him officially earning his spot in the rankings.
This followed less-publicized wins against Ryan Bourland (17-2) and Andre August (10-1-1), both of which occurred before his major event against Mike Tyson last November. While Bourland and August are not widely known, they held credible professional records.
Upon learning of his ranking, Paul posted on X, stating, “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.”
Jake Paul vs. Zurdo Ramirez: A Real Possibility?
While it may seem improbable to traditional boxing enthusiasts, there is a genuine possibility that Paul`s next opponent could be Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez fighting for his titles. It remains uncertain if the World Boxing Organization (WBO) would sanction Paul as a challenger, given he is not currently ranked by that organization.
Nevertheless, his position within the WBA`s top 15 makes him a legitimate candidate for a voluntary title defense against Ramirez for the WBA belt. The two fighters even interacted at the post-fight press conference on Saturday after securing wins in the main and co-main events.
Following his win, Paul described his performance in the post-fight interview: “It was flawless,” he said. “I think I only got hit 10 times. He just survived and thought I did great. Going 10 rounds against a former world champion who’s never been stopped. He’s in there with Canelo, all of these guys, and I embarrassed him like that.”
Paul also outlined his future aspirations and called out potential opponents: “I want tougher fighters and I want to be a world champion. ‘Zurdo’ [Ramirez] looked slow tonight. That’s easy work. I want Badou Jack. Tommy Fury can get it too. Stop running from me, Tommy.”
