JAKE PAUL has received the backing of Hamzah Sheeraz to face Anthony Joshua AND fight for a world title.
Paul is now the No14th ranked cruiserweight with the WBA after victory over
And afterwards, the 28-year-old included 6ft 6in heavyweight Joshua
But while others have laughed off his title ambitions and challenge to AJ – British star Sheeraz believes they are genuine.
He told Ariel Helwani: “I’m a fan. He could’ve chosen any other sport, but he chose boxing.
“You’re going in the ring, you’re risking your life, so there’s respect there for him.
“And he’s improving with every fight, and he’s stepping up in his fights as well.
“I get it, they’re tailoring the opponents to him, but that’s how every pro [boxer’s career works].
“I wouldn’t be surprised if, with the right world champion, he fights for a world title.
“I [also] wouldn’t be surprised [if Anthony Joshua vs. Paul happened before Joshua vs. Tyson Fury], especially with how Jake Paul is going, the trajectory that he’s on.”;
Sheeraz, 26, drew to WBC middleweight champ Carlos Adames, 31, in February in Saudi Arabia.
to face American Edgar Berlanga, 28, on Saturday in New York.
Joshua, 35, meanwhile is yet to return since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois, 27, in September.
And Fury, 36, is linked with a comeback following his retirement which he announced in the wake of his two losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 38.
Sheeraz said: “Everyone knows what Tyson Fury is like, everyone knows what he’s about.
“The dynamics of the sport of boxing right now, especially if you’re Tyson Fury, you wouldn’t be wise to walk away — even though he could, because he’s achieved it all. The space boxing is in now, it’s only right he stays.
“[Fury vs. Joshua is what I] want as well, but I think [the Usyk trilogy is] more for Tyson Fury himself. It’s more for him as a fighter.
“It’s for his ego — he needs to get that one back. If you look at the two fights [between Fury and Usyk], the first fight, alright, I thought Usyk won it.
“The second fight was a lot closer. If you’re going off that, I think, in his head, the third fight he’s going to dominate.
“I’d love to see [Fury vs. Joshua as well], I think we will see it. Maybe [at the] end of 2026.”;
