JAKE PAUL is armored with three key advantages that could take him to the top of boxing against all the odds.
The social media sensation left behind a full-time career in vlogging on YouTube to try and dedicate his life to becoming a prizefighting star.
And in the four years since his 2020 professional debut, Paul has become one of the highest-paid boxers in the world.
But more than just money, the American is convinced he will one day hold a world championship belt – despite his lack of experience.
Paul has been doing the right things, steadily upping his competition and ploughing millions into his training camps away from the cameras.
His one loss in ten bouts came against Tommy Fury, 25, in February 2023, and his opponents have switched from low-level boxers to MMA stars since.
But behind the scenes, Paul is putting in the work and recruiting high-level sparring partners and coaches.
For those reasons – along with being able to fight when he pleases – Paul is being tipped to make shock strides in the sport.
Steve Geffrard is a 21-3 former light-heavyweight world champion who has been sparring with Paul this year.
And Geffrard told SunSport: “He’s a late bloomer to the sport, but he takes it very, very seriously.
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“And on top of that, he has really good athletic ability. So he’s a great athlete. I think he has like three things about him that can really help him go far.
“One; his work ethic, his great work ethic and then two; he has resources, so he can pay for the best trainers, best sparring, best strength conditioning.
“He’s got physio guys that are with him 24/7, people working on his body, it’s good for longevity. And he can also fight whenever he wants. There’s world champions that can’t do that.”
Paul, 27, last fought in March when he stopped 17-2 Ryan Bourland, 36.
That is when Geffrard, 33, was first brought into Paul’s Puerto Rico training camp and was left impressed by the reformed prankster.
He said: “I’ve been in camps with a lot of top champions and top fighters and stuff and I’ve been boxing my whole life.
“I’ve seen people with less ability than him get up there and at least compete for a world title.
“This is boxing, anything can happen. You can’t count anybody out.
“He’s tough, he’s got good hand speed, good speed, the sky’s the limit for him we just have to see how far does he really want to take it.
‘He could seriously hurt one of those guys’
“Because of the way he’s training, I think he does wanna go out there and compete for a regional belt and possibly a world title someday.
“It’s gonna be tough. It’s not gonna be easy. But at least when he’s training, I see what his mindset is.
“He’s not going into training just to be like, ‘OK, I’m an influencer boxer.’
“He’s training to try and compete against the best eventually even though he hasn’t really picked those types of opponents yet.
“I think that’s truly what he wants to be. Because he’s spending all this money and sparring these guys that giving top quality work in the gym. He’s trying to get better.”
Paul returns over the weekend against former UFC star and now bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry, 32.
It was due to be against Mike Tyson until the heavyweight icon, 58, pulled out amid a health scare with the bout moved back to November 15.
Perry will be Paul’s fifth opponent from an MMA background – a level of opposition Geffrard believes he has surpassed.
Because of the way he’s training, I think he does wanna go out there and compete for a regional belt and possibly a world title someday.
Jake Paul’s sparring partner Steve Geffrard
He said: “Jake has to kind of fight those types of people because of their names that’s what brings attraction.
“But I think he’s past that level. I think he’s to the point where he could seriously hurt one of those guys.
“That’s my opinion and that’s pretty much a compliment, giving him a compliment because I think he can now go on and step it up and start fighting some other boxers, legit boxers.
“I’m not saying he can go and fight for a world title right away. But I think he’s good enough to where he doesn’t need to fight an old UFC fighter.
“I think he’s improved that much more and he’s got good power. Even if you’re a very experienced fighter, you can’t really go in there and just sleep on him because he’s got enough power to hurt you.
“You still gotta be – even though he doesn’t have as much experience – you still gotta be on your Ps and Qs. He’s a dog.”
Geffrard was sparring Paul in the lead up to his return and does no expect Perry to see the scheduled eighth and final round.
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He predicted: “I expect a knockout.
“As long as he doesn’t go out there looking for it, I think it’ll come, maybe around four, maybe second-half of the fight.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
