Mauricio Sulaiman on Jake Paul: “I believe he is ready to be entered in the rankings of the cruiserweight division”
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman spoke to OLBG ahead of Mike Tyson’s showdown against Jake Paul this Friday night, November 15, in Texas, live on Netflix.
The 54-year-old Mexican believes YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is close to joining the ‘big leagues’ in boxing and revealed that he could be ranked with WBC with a win at the weekend.
What does Jake Paul have to do to get ranked by the WBC?
MS: “He’s getting there. I believe he is 10-1 and in his last fight he looked dominant, but he needs to increase the level of competition and stay active. I believe he is ready to be entered in the rankings of the cruiserweight division. He is a real fighter but there is one more test to take place and it’s a ratings committee that determines the rankings. It is not me or a small group, it is a big group from all over the world and they have a ratings criteria. What I see is, Jake Paul is on the way to entering the big leagues in boxing.”
What’s your thoughts on Mike Tyson v Jake Paul?
MS: “I don’t know. Mike is a legend and an unbelievable legend that has so many great things and is outstanding. He had a very ugly ending to his career in boxing, but he was out of shape and in a completely problematic stage of his life. When the world needed entertainment in the pandemic, he stood up and fought Roy Jones Jr. He looked sensational and he did precisely what we all expected – to be an exhibition. He didn’t try to hurt Roy; it was just a nice display of abilities.
“This time with Jake Paul is different. He is a young, strong upcoming fighter with great social media followers and if it is an exhibition then we have to support it, it is good for boxing. So, let’s support it and make it a great event for kids to look up to Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.”
Is it dangerous for Mike Tyson?
MS: “Every fight is dangerous regardless of age, regardless of anything, one punch can change your life. We do our best effort at the WBC to minimise the risks for all fighters for when they go into the ring. We have changed the sport in the last 60 years with so many medicals, precaution weigh-ins, the 15 to 12 rounds, the weigh-in the day before and the gloves and ring. There are so many things we have introduced that have been successful, so everything is for their health and the benefit of the fighters. Any fight at any level is a concern.”