EDDIE HEARN has slammed the possibility of Jake Paul entering the World Boxing Council’s rankings.
The Mexican sanctioning body caused outrage this week by announcing the YouTuber turned boxer will become a ranked cruiserweight if he wins his showdown with Tommy Fury later this month.
MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONSJake Paul and Tommy Fury will finally collide at the end of the month[/caption]
GETTYThe winner of the fight will earn a spot in the WBC’s cruiserweight rankings[/caption]
Eddie Hearn isn’t a fan of either man being ranked after the fightREX
But the decision to potentially rank Paul hasn’t perplexed Hearn, who told Seconds Out: “Commercially I get it.
“I don’t think either fighter deserves that spot but it’s boxing.
“It’s a good fight and certainly the winner will be undefeated and there are other fighters in the top 15 of that governing body that don’t deserve to be there either.”
Hearn doesn’t begrudge the WBC for trying to potentially tee up a big fight in the future but believes ranking Paul, or Fury, after the bout will make a mockery of the sport.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told iFL TV: “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.
“Is it right? Not really.
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“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.”
Hearn, 43, initially tipped Paul to strike the telling blow to Fury before the fight with his mind games.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “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.
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“And I think will win by knockout.”
But he’s since changed his prediction for the Saudi showdown, telling Boxing UK: “I’m quite looking forward to it.
“I did think that Jake Paul would win the fight, but I think I’ve changed my mind.
“It’s a 50/50 though which is a little bit worrying in itself.”