Jake Paul can get a crack at a cruiserweight crown now that he's officially a world-ranked contender.
That development means Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) is eligible to face WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion
Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), if they agree to fight.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán shared his sentiment around Paul's potential prospects Tuesday.
"Well, the fight that generated expectations and a great diversity of opinions among our sport's fans, and with the bandwagoners who follow boxing on social media when famous influencers are involved, has now taken place," said Sulaimán.
"My dear Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. lost by unanimous decision to Jake Paul. I couldn't watch the fight due to the time difference, but comments in the media and on social networks say it was a one-sided fight, with much criticism of Julio's lack of activity, and that aligns with the judges' scorecards which unanimously gave the first seven rounds to Paul.
"This was Chavez Jr.'s last chance to do something in boxing, and I hope he makes the decision to hang up his gloves. I am very proud to know that he is well and has been clear of addictions for over a year, and I ask God to help him continue this way.
"Jake Paul wants to become a world champion, and winning this fight was a good step forward. Now what he needs is to continue with fights against boxers, ideally facing a world-ranked fighter to end so much speculation."
The WBC should release its July rankings update in the coming days. It remains to be seen if Paul will emerge in the sanctioning body's top 15, an outcome giving Paul eligibility to box for the green belt as well.
Heading into the Chavez fight, Paul and MVP Promotions chief Nakisa Bidarian
pressed the four major sanctioning bodies to be ranked. They also targeted WBC champion
Badou Jack as a possible opponent.
Jack, meanwhile, is set to face
Noel Mikaelian in a rematch ordered by the WBC last month following
his disputed majority decision win May 3. A purse bid originally scheduled for Tuesday has since been postponed for later this month.
Michal Cieslak, who stopped
Jean Pascal in four rounds Saturday, is the WBC interim cruiserweight champion.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring's lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan