Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-professional boxer, has announced his ambitious goal of capturing the cruiserweight world title by 2025. Paul, known as “The Problem Child,” is set to face American MMA fighter Mike Perry in Florida on July 20. This fight follows a delay in his bout with heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson, which was postponed due to a medical scare involving Tyson.
With a professional boxing record of 9-1, Paul has faced only one professional boxer, Tommy Fury, but he remains confident in his ability to achieve world honors within the next year. In an interview with ESPN, Paul expressed his belief in his potential, stating, “I believe in 2025 I will most likely be a world champion. I think I’m ready for it in the next couple of months and I’m going to go for it in 2025.”
Paul’s career has seen him fluctuate between weights, from 185 lbs up to cruiserweight. However, for his anticipated clash with Tyson, he was set to compete in the heavyweight category, having increased his weight to 230 lbs. Despite this, Paul admits that his natural weight is closer to 200 lbs, and he feels most powerful at cruiserweight. “Cruiserweight is what my body was made for. My punches aren’t the same [at lower weight classes]; I don’t have that power or pop,” Paul explained.
The current champions holding the cruiserweight world titles are Chris Billam-Smith (WBO), Gilberto Ramirez (WBA), Norair Mikaeljan (WBC), and Jai Opetaia (IBF). While Paul is not yet ranked within the top 15 of any major sanctioning bodies, he is determined to work his way up the rankings and earn a title shot.
Paul’s quest for legitimacy in the boxing world took a significant hit when he lost to Tommy Fury via split decision in February 2023. The defeat prevented him from securing a top 40 rating with the WBC, a position that Fury attained by entering the rankings at No. 39. However, Paul has since rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over MMA legend Nate Diaz and two first-round knockout wins against boxing veterans Andre August and Ryan Bourland.
As Paul prepares for his upcoming fight with Mike Perry, his sights are firmly set on his long-term goal of becoming a world champion. The journey ahead is challenging, with the need to climb the ranks and prove himself against tougher competition. Nevertheless, Paul’s determination and confidence suggest that he is ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead in his pursuit of the cruiserweight world title.
