Promoter Eddie Hearn Highlights WBC Plans To Give Rank For Jake Paul: That's The World We Live In

Eddie Hearn's promoter. (Photo: Twitter/@EddieHearn)

JAKARTA – Well-known promoter Eddie Hearn has responded to the plan of the World Boxing Council (WBC) which wants to give a rating to Jake Paul if he beats Tommy Fury.

The ranking plan was previously announced by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman last week. He confirmed Jake Paul would have earned the world ranking in the cruiserweight division if he could beat Tommy.

The decision obviously made headlines and Hearn didn't totally agree. However, he understands why the agency would want to take such a controversial step.

"Is that true? Not really, because there are many fighters who are more deserving of being in the top 15 than Jake Paul. However, this is the world we live in," said Hearn as quoted from Boxing Scene, Monday, February 20, 2023.

Jake Paul plans to enter the ring on February 26 against Tommy (8-0, 4 KO). The YouTube star will meet his undefeated opponent in Saudi Arabia.

Paul, who is undefeated in six fights (4 KO wins), has never actually faced a professional boxer in the ring. The majority of his wins have come against veteran mixed martial arts fighters.

Meanwhile, Fury, who is the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, is a fairly promising prospect. However, he has never faced a true test in the ring either.

"Sometimes the regulatory agencies have to live in the commercial world too. Tommy Fury is a decent fighter and Jake Paul will make a statement if he wins that fight. Not a statement that he can challenge for a world title, but in the end, there is a bit of publicity there,” Hearn said.

Even though he didn't agree with what the WBC wanted to do, Hearn was open to predicting the fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury. According to him, this fight was fairly even, but he was leaning in Jake's favor.

"Mentally, he [Jake Paul] is going to break Tommy Fury. I think he's going to screw Tommy mentally. I think by the time they get in the ring, Tommy is already beaten before the fight even gets underway. Paul is going to win win knockout," Hearn said.