JAKE PAUL will be ranked by the WBC if he beats Hasim Rahman Jr, a boxing chief has confirmed.
The Youtube star faces his sixth fight since his conversion to boxing, but the bout with Rahman represents his first match against an opponent with an established professional record.
So far Paul has fought a fellow social media star, a retired basketball player and two former UFC fighters and remained unbeaten.
But the August 6 fight with Rahman will be his biggest challenge yet, with his American opponent boasting a 12-1 record in his career so far.
And the stakes have been raised even higher after WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman announced Paul would be ranked if he won.
The boxing chief tweeted: Coming august 6 @jakepaul will take on Hasim Rahman jr.
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"Winning this fight will earn him a @WBCBoxing ranking."
Ranking would mean Paul would enter the top 40 of the WBC cruiserweight division, and in theory make it easier for him to face off against bigger names.
It would also put him within view of the top 15 which will give the 25-year-old the chance of a world title shot.
Paul has previously said he wanted to win a world title before he retires from the sport.
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Fans of the sport do not seem to have taken kindly to the decision by the WBC.
One reply to Sulaiman's tweet simply said: "What a joke."
Another said: "You're a joke of a sanctioning body."
One baffled fan asked: "Can you explain how this works? This is the only boxer he will have faced to date.
Another replied to them and said: "Publicity is how it works. Just so Jake Paul can spout he's ranked with the WBC and get some free air time."
The bout against Rahman Jr could at Madison Square Garden in New York was originally suppose to be against Love Island star Tommy Fury.
But the 23-year-old had to pull out facing problems with his visa.
It was revealed earlier this week that Paul has been sparing with three-times world champion Chad Dawson ahead of his fight.
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