JAKE PAUL has claimed he is the “best fighter in the world” – and has a list of reasons to back it up.
The YouTuber-turned boxer is 8-1 in his career and has set out lofty goals of becoming world champion.
And Paul has insisted he is just like “every fighter” who wants to reach the pinnacle of the sport – before making perhaps his most outlandish claim yet.
He told Fox Sports Australia: “I’m the best in the world.
“That’s what I believe. And that’s what every fighter who gets to where they want to be believes.
“And you have to believe it before the statistics or rounds of fights put you there.
“I believe all things considered, my natural ability, my talent, my IQ, all of these things, my ability to learn, to adapt, my toughness, preparation, my will power, my team, all of the things behind me, I believe that I am the best fighter in the world.”
Paul, 27, suffered defeat for the first time last February, losing a split-decision to Tommy Fury, 24.
He then bounced back in August to beat ex-UFC star Nate Diaz, 38, on points over ten rounds.
But Paul soon announced a switch in his career path and planned to fight lesser-known but seasoned boxers to build experience.
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It started with 10-1-1 Andre August, 35, who he knocked out in round one in December, kickstarting what he claimed is his road to the world title.
Paul now returns on March 2 on the undercard of Amanda Serrano’s Puerto Rico homecoming against 17-2 Ryan Bourland.
And his masterplan is to hold a world title by the age of 30, but business parter Nakisa Bidarian warned it could come as early as next year.
And Bidarian compared Paul’s trajectory to former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, 28.
He said: “Jake’s goal is to be world champion by the time he’s 30. He’s just turned 27. So it could be 28 or 29 years old.
“I think Jai has 55 fights between amateur and pro. Jake though, after this fight is ten fights in.
“But if you look at where Jai was ten fights in compared to where Jake is, when you see those two paths merging, Jake is going to surpass anyone performing well in the cruiserweight division currently.”