Jake Paul’s latest victory may have pushed him one step closer to a world title shot — but not without controversy. The 28-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer earned a wide-decision win over former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
While Paul dominated the fight from the opening bell, the post-fight headlines quickly shifted from his performance to his position in the latest WBA cruiserweight world rankings. On Monday, the WBA officially listed Paul at No. 14, a surprising move that has drawn backlash from boxing purists and active contenders.
One of those contenders is Craig Parker, the hard-hitting cruiserweight who held the 14th spot before being bumped to No. 15 to make room for Paul. In an emotional interview with TMZ Sports, Parker did not hold back.
“It was disgusting news to me,” says displaced contender
“I got up yesterday morning and the first thing that came to my news feed was Jake Paul ranked number 14 by the WBA where I was ranked at number 14 by the WBA, moved me down to number 15,” Parker said. “It was just something like all the hard work I put in over the years.”
Jake Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. during the weigh-in ceremonial. (Harry How/Getty Images)
The 32-year-old Parker has built a modest but respectable record in the division, competing mostly in regional bouts with limited exposure and resources. “It’s a struggle to be ranked in the WBA or any belt and stuff like that,” he continued.
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Parker added: “So for him just to take a position — that guys like me who struggle to find ways to the gym — it’s a long road to be where we at, you know? And for him just to be number 14, it was a slap in the face. What can I say? It was disgusting news to me.”
Paul eyes title shot despite widespread criticism
Paul’s professional record remains a point of contention. While the Cleveland native is 10-1 as a pro, the majority of his wins have come against retired MMA fighters or boxers well past their prime. Chavez Jr., his latest opponent, drew heavy criticism for a lackluster showing that some fans called “unmotivated” and “uninspired.”
Despite the skepticism, Paul has made clear he intends to pursue a world title. He has publicly mentioned interest in challenging reigning WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez, as well as WBC titleholder Badou Jack.
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The WBA’s decision to insert Paul into the rankings has sparked debate about the integrity of sanctioning bodies and the growing influence of star power over merit-based opportunities.
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