LAS VEGAS – For Jake Paul to gain a WBC title shot, the sanctioning body’s president Mauricio Sulaiman says the influencer-boxer must first defeat one of the organization’s top-15 ranked cruiserweights.
In a recent conversation with BoxingScene, Sulaiman praised the attention Paul has brought to boxing with events like June’s victory over former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr and his triumph in November over Mike Tyson, 58, at the AT&T Stadium outside Dallas, Texas.
Yet, Paul 12-1 (7 KOs), needs to cross the threshold of defeating long-retired, long-layoff or also-ran contenders in order for the WBC to sign off on a title fight, Sulaiman clarified.
While reigning WBC cruiserweight champion Badou Jack, 41, is heading into a rematch against top-ranked contender Norair Mikaeljan, 27-3 (12 KOs), the popular Paul could opt to select one of the WBC’s top-15 contenders in the interim to clinch his title-fight eligibility. It’s uncertain if he wants to do so, however.
Reached by BoxingScene regarding Sulaiman’s stipulation, Most Valuable Promotions head Nakisa Bidarian said “no comment” when asked if he is interested in exploring that path.
The WBC’s top-15 includes Ryan Rozicki, former champions Chris Billam-Smith and Ilunga Makabu, recent WBA and WBO title challenger Yuniel Dorticos, and Olanrewaju Durodola.
Paul has discussed the possibilities of fighting former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and reigning WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition.
Bidarian did strongly refute the claims by the promoter Don King that Paul sought to pay Mikaeljan to step aside so that he could land a title shot at Jack.
While Paul has said he aspires to become a world champion, he has also maintained his drawing power provides him the ability to pursue his own path in the sport.
