Eddie Hearn believes that Jake Paul could have been given a WBC ranking following his fight with Hasim Rahman Jr.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said that the unbeaten American would be given a ranking by his organisation if he beat Rahman Jr., with their fight planned for August 6.
However, the bout has since fallen through and now Paul is left looking for a new event in the future. It is not clear if that opponent will have the same credibility as professional heavyweight Rahman, but Hearn thinks it would have been a reasonable, if potentially cynical, move by Sulaiman.
“Depends where the rankings take place,” he told The DAZN Boxing Show.
“I think they go down to 40 or 50, the WBC rankings. I don’t mind him entering down there, I think in the top 15 would have been a little bit bold. I think Mauricio sees the value of Jake Paul being aligned with his governing body but I think he's' got to be there on his own merits.
“Saying that, Rahman is not horrendous.
“Maybe they give Rahman a bit more time. I think people are more interested in that fight now. They could reschedule.”