The WBC has updated their rating boards but despite featuring at least forty boxers, Jake Paul has conspicuously become absent in the top 40 rankings ― despite indications from earlier that Paul was to be ranked. The decision not to rank Paul follows shortly after the WBA, who did rate Paul in their own rankings, indicated they would review their ratings in lieu of criticism received for Paul’s #14 ranking.
In 2023, the WBC notably ranked Francis Ngannou as the #10-ranked heavyweight (200+ lbs) ― despite coming off a loss to Tyson Fury. With the standard for rankings appearing more so based off of popularity rather than competitive longevity, Jake Paul was expected to be ranked in the WBC’s top 40 of their cruiserweight (200 lbs) ranking boards after the WBC denoted their interest in rating Paul.
Though the initial expectation by the WBC to rank Jake Paul was desired by co-founder of Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), Nakisa Bidarian, the WBC itself had not indicated they would do so ― the WBC’s past attempts to rank Paul if he beat Tommy Fury nonetheless signified there was a good chance Paul would be ranked after defeating Mexican fighter Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28th this year at cruiserweight.
However, despite the WBC now having a precedent to rank Jake Paul, it appears the organization has delved to another course after their July 11th update saw the absence of the American fighter throughout the entirety of the top 40 cruiserweight rankings.
WBC’s decision not to rank Jake Paul is an extremely surprising U-turn given the organization had already openly sought to rate Paul ― while Tommy Fury, who handed Paul his first professional loss, would ultimately not be ranked despite his victory.
Speculatively, the recent uproar surrounding Paul’s #14 rating on the WBA’s cruiserweight ranking boards could have led to the WBC’s decision. After the sanctioning body ranked Paul at #14 above #15-rated American contender Craig Parker (20-0, 20 KO’s) ― whose record and 100% knockout percentage far exceeds Paul’s accomplishments as a professional, the WBA eventually declared their intentions to review Paul’s ranking after enduring steep criticism for their decision.
The WBC appears to be in no mood to face the same sort of scrutiny this time around after their initial attempts in ranking an unsuitable candidate in Francis Ngannou ended on a sour note as the Cameroonian fighter ended up focusing fully on MMA instead.
Alternatively, concerns regarding Jake Paul’s own ability to compete in the cruiserweight division against experienced contenders could suffice as a reasoning for the WBC to leave him absent from the rankings. With Paul’s health most prominently being in danger if he were to face a legitimate contender, the WBC’s most recent discussion on mental health might have contributed to Paul’s absence from their rankings.
