JAKE PAUL is set to be considered for a world ranking by the WBC -which would pave the way for him to challenge for a world title.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced Paul would earn himself a top 15 rating had he beaten heavyweight Hasim Rahman Jr in August.
The bout eventually got scrapped amid a weight row with the YouTube star instead returning against Anderson Silva.
And Sulaiman revealed, with new rankings set to be unveiled soon, a win for Paul over the weekend could see him placed in the top 15.
He told Fight Hype: “Jake Paul has a record in professional boxing and he has been improving the level of opposition.
“Of course the WBC ratings committee is open to consider fighters for rankings considering all of the different variables which are activity, level of opposition, results and so on.
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“So let’s see what happens Saturday. At the convention, the rankings will be addressed and the whole committee will meet.
“Twenty four people from all over the world meeting to come up with an official ratings for November, so we will keep an eye on Jake Paul to see what happens.”
Per the WBC’s rules, a fighter must be ranked within their top 15 for the right to challenge for their world title.
Meaning, if Paul, 25, beats Silva, 47, and is in fact placed in the ratings, he would be free to compete for a championship belt.
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Paul last boxed in December, knocking out Tyron Woodley, 40, four months after beating the ex-UFC champion on points.
That added to KOs over online rival AnEsonGib, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 38, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, also 38.
But Paul returns in Arizona in the biggest test of his career and drew comparisons to boxing greats Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather.
Sulaiman said: “People did not like Muhammad Ali, half of the people that watched him wanted him to lose.
“They called him a traitor and all of these names, but today he is regarded as the greatest athlete in the history of humanity.
“Floyd Mayweather, a lot of people didn’t like to see him and wanted him to lose.
“People may want to see Jake Paul lose but they are going to tune in.
“It’s very easy to criticise and simply bully people in the cyberspace because of personal situations, but what Jake and Logan Paul have done is a miracle so let’s support them.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
