Last week, World Boxing Council President Maurico Sulaiman made plenty of headlines when he confirmed that Jake Paul - should he beat Tommy Fury - would receive a world ranking in the cruiserweight division.
On February 26, the Youtube star turned boxer will face unbeaten Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) in Saudi Arabia.
Paul, unbeaten in six fights with four wins by knockout, has yet to face a true boxer in the ring. The majority of his wins have come against MMA veterans.
Fury, while an undefeated prospect and the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has never faced a real test in the ring.
Veteran promoter Eddie Hearn does not fully agree with the WBC's decision on Paul being in line for a world ranking, but he understands why the sanctioning body made that move.
"Sometimes governing bodies have to live in that commercial world as well. Tommy Fury's a proper fighter and Jake Paul would make a statement if he won that fight. Not a statement that he can challenge for a world title, but, ultimately, there's a little bit of publicity in there," Hearn told IFL TV.
"Is it right? Not really. Because there's fighters that deserve to be in the top 15 much more than Jake Paul, but it's the world we live in."
While he views the contest as being a near level proposition, Hearn has been leaning in the direction of Paul coming away with the win.
“Mentally, he’ll break Tommy Fury. I think he’ll mess with Tommy mentally, and I just think by the time they get in the ring, if they do get in the ring, I think Tommy will be defeated before the fight’s even taken place. And I think will win by knockout," Hearn told The MMA Hour.
