February 25, 2023 9:30 am ET
Wish to get snicker from a hardcore boxing fan? Counsel that Jake Paul may win a significant world title at some point.
Paul, who’s scheduled to face rival Tommy Fury in a pay-per-view bout Sunday in Saudi Arabia, is undefeated and his demonstrated some pure capacity. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer has had seven whole fights (six professional, one beginner) in his life. And none of his opponents have been real boxers.
He’s like a starting dancer studying a sophisticated new step; he may need the essential concept however an informed eye can see he’s nonetheless making an attempt to determine all of it out. And he may by no means look something like Fred Astaire.
“That’s like saying a pig’s going to fly,” Fury informed Sky Sports when requested whether or not Paul may at some point win a significant title.
That notion doesn’t appear to discourage Paul, nevertheless. He’s satisfied that something is feasible with arduous work and sufficient time. And he’s not alone. His coach, BJ Flores, helps in his desires. And so do some who aren’t working with him, together with Corridor of Famer Shane Mosley.
“I need to change into a world champion,” Paul informed Sky Sports activities. “I’m going to change into a world champion, and these fights are all simply stepping stones to get there. I’m slowly bettering.
“I’ve sparred in opposition to world champions and completed phenomenal in opposition to them, so who is aware of what can occur in two to a few years from now once I go into my athletic prime? I’m beginning to actually, actually get this sport and all features of it.
“It’s actually truly scary what may probably occur. I feel not solely will I change into a world champion, I feel I will probably be a dominant world champion and knock somebody out for the belt.”
October 29, 2022; Glendale, Ariz; USA; Jake Paul punches Anderson Silva throughout a bout at Desert Diamond Enviornment. (Patrick Breen, USA TODAY Sports activities)
Mosley, who labored with Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) early in his profession, mentioned in an interview with FightHype.com that Paul “is an actual fighter.”
The previous two-division world champion mentioned Paul may need to goal one-time middleweight titleholder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. as a kind of stepping stones.
Chavez lately misplaced a call to former MMA star Anderson Silva, who Paul outpointed in his most-recent struggle.
“It’s a risk as a result of he has the body, he has the pace, he has the facility,” Mosley mentioned of Paul’s possibilities of incomes a belt. “He may have to lose slightly little bit of weight, however he fights at cruiserweight, so possibly he goes right down to gentle heavyweight. “It’s going to be arduous for him at any of the weights when you get to that stage. Then he has to work with the correct folks. … It can most likely take him two, three, 4 years to even be in that part, that space.
“He’s not there but. But when he fights the correct folks, then possibly he can do it.”
Flores, a former cruiserweight contender, mentioned he’ll be by Paul’s aspect it doesn’t matter what occurs.
“(Profitable a phrase title is) nonetheless a method away and a lofty, lofty purpose” Flores mentioned. “… I’m behind him all the way in which and we’re going to experience this factor out so long as it goes.”
It may occur sooner relatively than later. WBC officers inexplicably have mentioned that Paul may land in there rankings if he wins on Sunday. Then he’d be a place to face a titleholder … prepared or not.
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