Jake Paul May Be Headed for a Title Shot Sooner Than Expected originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jake Paul just got past his toughest test yet — and it wasn’t a YouTuber, a former NBA player, or an aging MMA fighter. This time, it was Julio César Chávez Jr., the son of a legend and a former WBC middleweight champion with a record of 54-7-1 (34 KOs). Paul won by unanimous decision in a gritty, solid performance that turned heads — including that of a former world champion who believes the business side might give Paul a real shot.
Antonio Tarver, a former light heavyweight champion, Olympic bronze medalist, and respected boxing commentator, sat down with TMZ Sports to break down Paul’s showing against Chávez Jr.
While he did offer some criticism, he also gave Paul credit where it was due.
‘You don’t know how hard that is to stay poised,’ Tarver said.
‘You guys don’t know how hard it is to stay in control. That’s a 10-round, 3-minute fight, and if you aren’t a professional boxer, you aren’t going 10 rounds with nobody.’‘He’s in the top 14, and when these guys are up for a voluntary defense, that means they can fight anybody in the top 10, top 15… Why wouldn’t a guy give Jake Paul a real opportunity? It’s going to be a huge fight and I don’t have to take a crazy risk.’
‘Whether Jake Paul wins or loses fighting for the world title — that’s a win.’
Paul now sits at No. 14 in the WBA cruiserweight rankings, which officially qualifies him for a title shot. And the man at the top? Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramírez, who most recently beat Yuniel Dorticos via unanimous decision to capture the WBA strap.
In his post-fight comments, Paul acknowledged Ramírez by name and blasted him as looking slow. Whether the WBA champ takes the bait remains to be seen, but Paul’s presence in the rankings — and the spotlight — means the conversation around a world title shot is no longer fantasy.
Since Ramírez has fulfilled his mandatory obligation by defeating Dorticos, he’s now free to pursue a voluntary defense or a unification bout. Under WBA rules, any fighter ranked in the top 15 — like Paul — is eligible for a voluntary title challenge, making the business case for Paul’s next move even more compelling.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.