No one took
Jake Paul seriously when he first flirted with the idea of becoming a professional boxer. However, he's happy the WBA didn't find his mission a laughing matter.
From fighting former NBA players to past-their-prime boxers, Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) believes he's done more than enough to get a shot at a world champion. Although the IBF, WBC, and WBO are so far unwilling to rate him among the world's best contenders,
the WBA made headlines this month after giving him a spot in their top-15 rankings at cruiserweight.
Although still fairly low, pegged at number 14, his position is good enough to fight for a world title. Ironically, following his
10-round decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, he playfully faced off with current WBA and WBO champion
Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez.
A matchup between them could be baking as we speak. But even if he gets his hands on Ramirez, Roy Jones Jr. seriously doubts that Paul would be able to become a champion.
"No," Jones told Fight Hub TV.
Jones knows a thing or two about winning world titles. He grabbed trinkets in several divisions before going on to become a Hall of Famer and while not saying much about Paul's brief fighting career, has paid attention like many across the world.
To a certain extent, Jones respects Paul. He knows it isn't easy to work up the courage to step between those ropes and get punched in the face for a living - especially knowing Paul never needed the money. What he doesn't respect, is how he's gone about his business.
From his point of view, Paul has carefully selected his opponents and there's a reason for that. If the former YouTuber-turned-fringe contender fought the world's best, Jones believes he would already have several losses plastered to his record - an opinion shared by many, still waiting for the inevitable step-up in competition and risky matchup he falters in.
"I think if they make him fight tough opponents, guys with experience, those guys will beat him."