Jake Paul’s Boxing Status After Defeat
Following his recent defeat to Anthony Joshua, Jake Paul has seen a significant change in his boxing status, now absent from the WBA’s cruiserweight rankings. The fight, held on December 19 in Miami, marked a challenging bout for Paul, who faced multiple knockdowns before being ultimately stopped in the sixth round. Despite the bout being contested at heavyweight—a division where Joshua is recognized as a former two-time world champion—Paul’s performance has considerably impacted his reputation in his usual cruiserweight division.
WBA Rankings Update
In the latest update to the WBA rankings on December 31, Jake Paul was removed from the No. 14 position, which now features 15 ranked fighters. The 28-year-old first achieved a ranking after defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June, a bout that showcased his rising status in professional boxing. However, with his latest defeat, which brings his professional record to 12 wins and 2 losses, he has dropped from the rankings entirely.
Impact of the Loss
In his loss to Joshua, Paul suffered a broken jaw at two different locations. This fight came just over a year after his previous outing in heavyweight boxing, where he secured a points victory against boxing legend Mike Tyson. Throughout his career, Paul has collected victories over well-known figures from the UFC, including Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. It’s worth noting that his only prior professional loss occurred in the cruiserweight division against Tommy Fury in 2023, who is the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Future Aspirations
Looking ahead, Paul’s future endeavors remain uncertain; however, he has made no secret of his aspiration to fight renowned Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez. Alvarez, currently 35 years old, is a celebrated four-weight world champion, yet he experienced a setback in his last match where he lost his super-middleweight titles to Terence Crawford by decision.
Anthony Joshua’s Personal Tragedy
In the midst of these developments, Anthony Joshua is dealing with personal tragedy. He was involved in a recent car accident while traveling in Nigeria, which resulted in the death of two individuals from his team, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, while he himself suffered only minor injuries. This incident adds an additional layer of complexity to Joshua’s immediate future in the boxing ring.
