Former world heavyweight champion David Haye believes that Jake Paul will "shock the world" after praising the YouTuber for his "genius" match-up with Hasim Rahman Jr.
Paul announced last week that Tommy Fury was unable to make it to America due to visa issues, meaning that he has to replace him with Rahman Jr for the Madison Square Garden bout on 6 August. Upon hearing the news, Haye messaged close friend BJ Flores - who serves as Paul's trainer - to let him know his thoughts on the new match-up.
Haye and Flores have been friends since their days competing at the top level of boxing, with the latter a multiple-time world title challenger. The Brit has had less contact with his American pal since he took over in Paul's camp, which is based in Puerto Rico, but they stay in touch, with Flores sharing a snapshot of their messages, with some parts redacted.
"Genius matchmaking," Haye told Flores, before a partially-blocked message that read: "And he's the son of former heavyweight champion... Genius. Masterful matchmaker at it's finest - stoppage victory, that will shock the world."
In a later interview with iFL TV, Haye expanded on his thoughts, insisting that it is now time to take Paul seriously in the sport. The YouTuber makes outrageous claims, including vowing to become world champion within three years, but has the respect of the likes of Haye and Flores for his work ethic.
"He deserves a lot of credit if he beats a legitimate boxer," Haye explained. "Whoever that boxer is. And for a heavyweight champion's son whose record is 12-1, he's a proper boxer from a proper boxing family.
"So I think that they wouldn't have taken the fight [if they didn't feel they could win]. BJ Flores is very, very strategic, he's a tactician, he gets it and understands styles.
"He understands Jake Paul, and he's said to me since he's been training him 'he's the real deal'. I've watched sparring sessions of his and I'm like 'that's not who everyone thinks he is'.
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"I know he's a real boxer and if he wins the fight, then everyone will know. I kind of already know it, but everyone else will be able to see it come fight night."
Paul and Rahman Jr came face-to-face in New York on Wednesday for the first time since a sparring session leading into the YouTuber's second professional fight. The heavyweight was in strong voice, as was infamous big-talker Paul, who believes that he will stop the much larger opponent.
Rahman Jr, whose dad Hasim Rahman knocked out Lennox Lewis to become heavyweight champion in his career, has a size and reach advantage over Paul, but will be forced into a rehydration period stopping him from ballooning up to 210lb after making cruiserweight for the first time.
