As someone who has followed boxing for years and worked across its business and promotional sides, I never expected to find myself defending Jake Paul. But I also can't deny what I see. Jake Paul has done more to revive interest in boxing-especially among younger fans and women - than most fighters with twice the experience. And whether traditionalists like it or not, he's earned a place in the sport's present-and likely its future.
In boxing, the term "rankings" once meant a sacred shortlist reserved for the sport's most battle-tested warriors. But as the sport evolves - economically, culturally, and digitally - so too must its metrics of recognition. Jake Paul, who just a few years ago was dismissed as a YouTuber dabbling in boxing, now finds himself ranked #14 by the World Boxing Association (WBA) in the cruiserweight division. And the backlash has been swift.
But here's the uncomfortable truth for boxing purists: the WBA got it right. And if any sanctioning body wants to remain relevant in a changing landscape, Jake Paul should not only be ranked-he should be taken seriously.
Jake Paul vs. Badou Jack: A Fight That Ends the Debate
If there's a single fight that would silence doubters and make Jake Paul's status in the sport undeniable, it's this: Jake Paul vs. Badou Jack, the current WBC cruiserweight champion and one of the most respected, battle-proven veterans in the game. Jack, who is closely aligned with Turki Alalshikh [chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and the most influential figure in global boxing today] is seen as a throwback to traditional boxing values: discipline, longevity, grit.
Paul, by contrast, is viewed by some as a social media disruptor with a camera and gloves. But here's the irony: Paul has fought higher-caliber opposition than most prospects with the similar experfience levels. Paul is competitive, athletic, and improving. A bout between the two wouldn't be a circus, it would be a crossroads fight. If Paul truly wants to put the debate to rest, challenging Badou Jack is the way to do it. It forces the hand of the critics, particularly those in Alalshikh's circle, who have vocally dismissed Paul as unworthy of sanctioning body recognition.
What better way to prove your legitimacy than by taking on the champion favored by the most powerful man in modern boxing? Even if Paul doesn't win, a competitive and respectable performance against a world champion like Jack would validate his standing and silence many of the remaining critics. In boxing, it's not always about the win - it's about how you perform when the lights are brightest. And Jake Paul has shown time and again that he delivers when the stakes are high.
Responding to the Critics: Boxing's Old Guard vs. the New Era
Jake Paul's critics are loud, passionate, and rooted in tradition. They argue that he hasn't paid his dues, that he hasn't faced a ranked opponent, or that his rise is more spectacle than sport. But here's what they're missing: Jake Paul has done more to spark conversation, sell tickets, and bring global attention to boxing in his short career than most fighters do in their entire lifetimes. Critics conveniently forget that boxing has always been about more than just the number of fights. It's about who can command attention, create demand, and deliver when the lights are on. From Jack Johnson to Mike Tyson, from Floyd Mayweather to Tyson Fury - controversial, charismatic figures have always moved the sport forward. Jake Paul is simply the modern version of that formula, and boxing should embrace the energy, not resist it.
The reality is that boxing has become a niche sport, dominated for years by an aging audience and often ignored by the mainstream. Jake Paul has disrupted that pattern. He's brought in a younger demographic, attracted casual fans, and, perhaps most meaningfully, he has done more to elevate women's boxing than anyone else. This simply can't be ignored. Look no further than his role in promoting Amanda Serrano. Through his platform and business acumen, Serrano and Katie Taylor headlined Madison Square Garden in one of the most significant women's fights in boxing history. And unlike many promoters of the past, Paul pushed for fairer purses and legitimate spotlight. Serrano, who once fought for world titles for pennies, is now earning what champions deserve. That's because of Jake Paul.
So when critics argue that Paul is in it for himself, the facts say otherwise. He's put his platform behind other fighters-especially women-and used his reach to push the sport forward, not just his own narrative.
The WBA Took a Risk and Got It Right
The WBA is taking heat for ranking Jake Paul at #14, but let's be clear: their decision is not just defensible, it's visionary. Jake Paul is arguably more talked about, more marketable, and more influential than 95% of ranked fighters in any weight class. That matters. Rankings are not - and never have been - solely about resumes. They are about relevance, activity, fan interest, and growth potential.
In an era when boxing is struggling to capture mainstream attention outside of its diehards, the WBA chose to embrace the future, not protect the past. They recognized that Paul's presence in the rankings doesn't cheapen the sport, it invites millions of new fans to care about it. That kind of reach and engagement is something the sport desperately needs to survive and thrive.
Fighters Ranked Early with Limited Fights - The Precedent Exists (Even Ali Didn't Command This Much Attention At First)
Jake Paul has 11 professional fights, and while critics question his ranking, many boxers have been ranked or even handed title shots with the same or fewer: Vasyl Lomachenko fought for a world title in just his second pro fight [eight if you count the World Series of Boxing] and won one in his third. Guillermo Rigondeaux was ranked and won a world title in his seventh fight. Shakur Stevenson and Naoya Inoue were fast-tracked into world rankings before reaching double-digit bouts.
What sets Paul apart? None of those fighters drew even a fraction of the attention, digital reach, or pay-per-view sales that Paul generates. They were ranked on potential. Jake Paul has proven both potential and marketability in the ring. And when we look back through boxing history, it is nearly impossible to find a fighter with only 11 bouts who has commanded the kind of global attention, financial power, and cultural impact that Jake Paul has. He is not just another prospect, he is a once-in-a-generation disruptor forcing the sport to reckon with its own outdated models.
Even when compared to the sport's greatest legends, Jake Paul's reach is extraordinary. Take Muhammad Ali, for instance. By his 11th professional fight in 1961, Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) was respected as an Olympic gold medalist and a fast-rising contender, but he had yet to become a household name globally. There was no social media, pay-per-view system, or instant global audience. His fame grew steadily, rooted in performance and charisma, but not amplified by algorithms, digital campaigns, or viral buzz.
Jake Paul, by contrast, has generated more attention, media coverage, and fan engagement in his first 11 fights than any boxer in history at the same stage-including Ali. That is not a knock on
Ali's greatness-it's a recognition of how powerful the modern media ecosystem can be when combined with calculated ambition and performance.
The Turki Alalshikh Paradox: Why One Disruptor Is Celebrated, and the Other Dismissed
Turki Alalshikh is now the most powerful man in boxing. Yet, just two years ago, he was a relative unknown in the sport, with no in-ring experience. Since then, he has transformed boxing, staged landmark fights, and reshaped the business model. The boxing world didn't question whether he "earned" his influence. They embraced his vision and results. So why does Jake Paul face a different standard?
Like Turki, Jake Paul entered the sport as an outsider. But he too has invested, committed, and delivered. He trains, promotes, competes, and pulls in global audiences. If boxing can celebrate Turki's rise as a visionary, it should at least acknowledge Paul's legitimacy as a fighter. If Turki can be boxing's kingmaker without ever throwing a punch, Jake Paul deserves the dignity of a ranking for stepping between the ropes and fighting.
From Influencer to Disruptor: The Jake Paul Arc
From my own life experience, I recognize a rare psychological trait in Jake Paul, one I've seen in only a few people, and it's what makes him truly dangerous in the ring. The more he's doubted, the harder he works. The more critics say he doesn't belong, the more he pours fuel on the fire. There's a psychological compulsion in him to prove people wrong-not just once, but over and over again. And as he gains more experience, that belief in himself doesn't just grow, it multiplies. It's the kind of mindset that can't be taught. You either have it or you don't. Jake Paul has it. And that
relentless drive-fueled not by entitlement but by rejection-is exactly what makes him a serious threat to anyone who underestimates him.
Skeptics say Paul doesn't belong in boxing. But history says otherwise. Just look at how often the world gets disruptors wrong at first glance. Jeff Bezos was mocked for selling books online. Mark Zuckerberg was dismissed as a college dropout running a glorified social directory. Even Elon Musk was ridiculed for betting on electric cars and rockets. These figures weren't respected until they forced the world to take notice-not with legacy credentials, but with results. Jake Paul is following that same pattern in boxing. He may not come from the amateur ranks, but he's already disrupted the game-and the metrics that matter show he's here to stay.
Just look at the pattern across sports. Venus and Serena Williams were dismissed as sideshows coached by an overbearing father—until they dominated tennis and changed it forever. Tiger Woods was mocked for being too robotic and too different—and then won the Masters by twelve strokes, shattering the sport’s racial and generational barriers. Ronda Rousey was called a gimmick before becoming the face of women’s MMA. Tom Brady was drafted 199th overall and told he’d never start in the NFL. Now he’s the greatest quarterback of all time. Stephen Curry was doubted because he wasn’t big or athletic. Now he’s changed how basketball is played. Conor McGregor was laughed at for being brash and broke, collecting welfare in Dublin—until he took over the fight world. Jake Paul is walking a path that’s been walked before. And like those before him, he may be doubted now, but the smart money’s on him becoming undeniable.
Conclusion: Legacy Is Earned, Not Given but Jake Paul Is Earning It
Jake Paul doesn't need to convince everyone-but he's convinced enough people that he's no longer a gimmick. If he's willing to challenge a fighter like Badou Jack, the world must pay attention. And if the sanctioning bodies want to stay relevant in the streaming era of boxing, Jake Paul's ascent is not just acceptable, it's necessary. Because in the end, boxing isn't just about who you beat, it's about who's watching when you do. And Jake Paul has the world watching.
Editor's note: Charles Muniz is a respected boxing insider who has spent decades in the sport as an advisor and manager.
