If you’ve spent any time on social media over the last few years, you’ve seen the chaos. Jake Paul, the guy who used to make goofy YouTube sketches, is now a legitimate—and highly polarizing—fixture in the boxing world. But there's one question that always seems to spark a massive debate in the comments section: what weightclass is jake paul?
It sounds like a simple question. In most sports, you have a position. You’re a point guard or a linebacker. In boxing, you have a weight class. But because Jake’s career has been built on a mix of "influencer" spectacles and a genuine climb toward world rankings, the answer is kinda messy.
Honestly, he’s been a bit of a chameleon.
The Short Answer: Cruiserweight is Home
If you look at the official record books or check his ranking with the World Boxing Association (WBA), Jake Paul is a cruiserweight.
In professional boxing, the cruiserweight limit is $200$ pounds. For the vast majority of his career—fights against Nate Diaz, Tommy Fury, Anderson Silva, and Tyron Woodley—he has tipped the scales right around the $185$ to $200$-pound mark.
But here’s the thing. He hasn't stayed there. Lately, he’s been chasing much bigger fish, and that means bulking up.
The Heavyweight Pivot: Mike Tyson and Anthony Joshua
Things got weird in late 2024. Jake signed to fight the legendary Mike Tyson, and for the first time, he officially moved into the heavyweight division.
Because heavyweight essentially has no upper limit (starting at $200+$ pounds), Jake didn't have to worry about a "cut." He showed up to that fight looking noticeably thicker, weighing in at roughly $227$ pounds. He won that fight by decision, but it was just the beginning of his heavyweight experiment.
Fast forward to December 2025. Jake took the biggest risk of his life: a fight against former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
For this bout, the contract actually had a specific "catch-limit" of $245$ pounds. Jake weighed in at 216 lbs, while Joshua came in at 243.4 lbs. Even though it was technically a heavyweight fight, Jake was giving up nearly $30$ pounds of natural muscle to a guy who has spent his entire life at the top of that food chain.
The result? Jake got knocked out in the sixth round. It was a brutal reminder that weight classes exist for a reason.
A History of Moving the Goalposts
If we look back at his career timeline, Jake's weight has been all over the map. It’s actually pretty impressive how he’s managed his body, even if the "purists" hate him for it.
- The Early Days (Cruiserweight): Against fellow YouTubers like AnEsonGib and Nate Robinson, he was a lean $189$ to $191$ lbs.
- The MMA Era: When he fought Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, he stayed in that $190$ lb sweet spot. He was usually the bigger, stronger man in those fights because those guys were natural welterweights or middleweights ($170$–$185$ lbs) in the UFC.
- The Ranking Quest: In mid-2025, he fought Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at a strict cruiserweight limit. By winning that unanimous decision, he actually earned a #14 world ranking in the WBA cruiserweight division.
- The Heavyweight Leap: As mentioned, the 2024-2025 run against Tyson and Joshua saw him ballooning up over $215$ lbs to try and handle the power of the "big boys."
Why Does His Weight Class Keep Changing?
Basically, it's about the "A-side" power. Because Jake Paul brings the money and the views, he often gets to dictate the terms.
When he fights smaller MMA legends, he stays at cruiserweight to keep his size advantage. When he wants a "legacy" fight against a heavyweight icon, he puts on the mass. It’s a strategic move. But as the Joshua fight proved, you can only play with physics for so long before you get caught.
Lately, there’s been talk of him dropping back down. After the loss to AJ, the consensus among his camp—and even his critics—is that he belongs at cruiserweight. He’s currently 29 years old, and at 6'1", he doesn't have the frame to naturally compete with $6'6"$ giants who weigh $250$ lbs of pure muscle.
What’s Next for 2026?
Word on the street is that Jake is looking to reclaim his spot in the cruiserweight rankings. He’s been linked to names like Jai Opetaia or even a rematch with Tommy Fury (who handed him his first loss back in 2023).
💡 You might also like: Chicago Cubs New Jerseys: Why the Powder Blue Comeback Actually Matters
If he wants a world title, he has to stay at $200$ pounds. That’s his natural ceiling.
Actionable Takeaways for Following Jake Paul's Career:
- Check the Weigh-In: Don't just look at the poster. The official weigh-in (usually the day before the fight) tells you everything about his conditioning and whether he’s taking the fight seriously.
- Watch the Reach: At 76 inches, Jake has a great reach for a cruiserweight. When he steps up to heavyweight, that advantage disappears instantly.
- Rankings Matter: If you want to know if he’s "legit," check the WBA or WBC rankings. If he’s in the top 15, he’s a contender, regardless of how you feel about his YouTube past.
The bottom line? Jake Paul is a cruiserweight who likes to pretend he’s a heavyweight when the paycheck is big enough. If he wants to be a champion, he’ll need to stop the weight-hopping and settle into the $200$-pound limit for good.