ANAHEIM, California – Jake Paul secured his most significant victory to date against a professional boxer by comfortably winning a unanimous decision over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in a 10-round cruiserweight bout.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) has publicly stated his ambition to become a world champion, and the win against Chavez Jr. moves him closer to realizing this goal. However, Paul remains relatively inexperienced in professional boxing, with just one amateur fight and the victory over Chavez Jr. being only his 13th pro contest. The caliber of opposition he has faced also raises questions. His career has primarily involved matchups against former mixed martial artists, a couple of boxing journeymen, another YouTube personality, a retired NBA player, and a nearly 60-year-old former heavyweight great in Mike Tyson.
While Chavez Jr. is an experienced boxer, he is significantly past his prime and has struggled with activity and performance in recent years. Nevertheless, Paul achieved his biggest win to date and displayed noticeable improvements and new aspects to his style since suffering his only loss to Tommy Fury in 2023.
If Paul intends to compete for a cruiserweight world championship, potential opponents holding titles include WBC champion Badou Jack, Gilberto `Zurdo` Ramirez (who defended his WBA and WBO belts in the co-main event), and IBF titleholder Jai Opetaia. Both the WBA and WBC have indicated that a strong performance from Paul could lead to him being ranked by their organizations, though the IBF and WBO have not made similar statements.
“I don`t care, bro,” Paul stated in his post-fight interview. “I have plenty of time. I`m 28 years old. I`ll fight anyone, anytime, any place.”
Considering the current situation, what is a realistic next step for Paul, and which champion presents his most favorable opportunity?
1. Badou Jack
Jack has held the WBC title since defeating Ilunga Makabu in February 2023 but has only defended it once, against Noel Mikaelian in May. This timeline might align for a potential fight with Paul by late 2025. Despite being 41, Jack remains a dangerous opponent due to his extensive experience. Among the current champions, Jack appears to be the most probable candidate for Paul to challenge for a world title. While it would represent a significant jump in competition for Paul, he would possess a reach advantage and seems to have adapted to the size of fellow cruiserweights. This isn`t to suggest Jack is the `easiest` option, but he seems the most accessible path if Paul aims to capture a world championship.
2. Gilberto `Zurdo` Ramirez
Ramirez, 34, secured a hard-fought decision win against former champion Yuniel Dorticos on Saturday and remains undefeated in the cruiserweight division. Although it wasn`t his most spectacular performance, `Zurdo` faced a powerful former champion and managed to pull ahead late in the fight. Don`t underestimate Ramirez based on a slow start or a less-than-dominant showing. He is a highly skilled boxer capable of stringing together combinations and effectively shutting down opponents with his guard. Given the WBA`s interest in ranking Paul, Ramirez is a potential option for the former YouTuber. However, Ramirez seems more inclined towards a unification bout with Opetaia, which appears to be the more likely direction, despite a brief face-off with Paul at the post-fight press conference. Ramirez holds advantages in size and experience against the younger Paul, who would likely be a significant underdog. Nevertheless, the WBA has made unexpected decisions in the past, so a fight with Paul being mandated wouldn`t be entirely surprising.
3. Jai Opetaia
Opetaia, 29, is widely considered the top fighter in the cruiserweight division. He possesses both speed and power, is a forceful puncher hitting his prime, and presents a challenging matchup for Paul at this stage of his career. The IBF has not indicated any interest in ranking Paul, making this the least likely of the potential championship fights. It also represents the toughest test, requiring Paul to gain significantly more experience in the ring before stepping up to this level. Opetaia is less well-known to American audiences, so the potential reward might not currently outweigh the risk for Paul.
Most likely next opponent: Tommy Fury
A rematch with Tommy Fury, likely in a non-title bout, is a more realistic immediate step for Paul. Paul has shown considerable improvement since their previous encounter, suggesting the timing could be right to avenge his loss. Paul`s team has often mentioned Fury`s high financial demands as an obstacle to a rematch, but Fury`s options in the division appear limited at this time. A second fight would generate significant interest and offers a compelling storyline. Provided both sides can agree on terms, this fight is the most probable outcome if Paul cannot quickly secure a bout with a current world champion.