Jake Paul’s Brief Run In WBA Rankings Comes To An End

The defeat also ended his brief stay among the WBA’s ranked cruiserweights. Paul had entered the top 15 earlier in the year after a wide points win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, a result that triggered internal objections within the sport. The ranking was appealed during a WBA conference and upheld, though questions surrounding its durability never fully disappeared.

Activity played a role. Two of Paul’s last three bouts were contested outside the cruiserweight division. A proposed exhibition against Gervonta Davis had already pushed him toward open weight territory before the Joshua fight confirmed the shift. As his schedule drifted upward, the relevance of a cruiserweight ranking became increasingly uncertain.

The WBA update removed Paul from the list entirely. He had been ranked #14 before slipping to #15 and now appears as not ranked, with Liam Callanan and Edin Puhalo taking available positions. Paul has not publicly addressed the change.

Before the Joshua loss, Paul had spoken openly about returning to cruiserweight and pursuing a title. He shared a California card last June with WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez, and briefly faced him afterward, a moment that hinted at longer-term ambition rather than immediate intent.

For now, those ambitions are suspended. Paul has said he hopes to fight twice next year once recovered. Whether those bouts come at cruiserweight or elsewhere will determine if a ranking reentry is even relevant. In the meantime, the removal marks a quiet narrowing of options rather than a definitive ending.