Ryan Garcia believes that Jake Paul could crack the world's top 30 or 40 boxers, but likely won't go much further.
The young lightweight prospect is one of the most exciting fighters in the world, and has been friends with Paul since early in his career. Garcia and Paul have worked together to improve in each other's expertise, with the YouTube star offering tips on how to grow his social media following while the boxer helped to train with him.
And now Garcia has admitted that he believes Paul has a high ceiling, even if it's unlikely that he can make it to the world level he believes that he'll reach. As it stands, Paul has yet to face a boxer with a previous professional record, although he will rectify that next month when he fights Hasim Rahman Jr in New York.
But Garcia, who himself is likely just one or two fights away from a world title opportunity, believes Paul can achieve more than most critics give him credit for. "Top 30," Garcia answered when asked by DAZN where Paul may end up.
"Top 30 or top 40, but it would be hard for him to crack anything more than that. These guys have been boxing their whole lives, they have a little bit of a head start, not a little, actually, a lot.
"They're determined that because it's their livelihood they've got people to feed. He makes money other places and he started off like that, where these guys have nothing.
"They're experienced and they're not playing around, so [he'll find out] once he gets in there with one of those, and that's all in the top 30 or 40, I'm giving him credit to get there. I'm talking about in real rankings."
Paul has knocked out his four professional opponents, including former UFC champion Tyron Woodley and former Bellator champion Ben Askren. He was due to face Tommy Fury on August 6, but the Brit pulled out and he was replaced by Rahman Jr.
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And Paul believes that he will ultimately reach world level, and become a champion at light-heavyweight. Currently, the belts are held by Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, but he believes he will get there within three or four years.
"My goal is to be the light-heavyweight champion of the world in three to four years and to fight the biggest names in the sport," Paul said during a recent appearance on ESPN's First Take.
"So I'm going to keep on progressing each time and get harder and harder fights and that's really all I've done. So the celebrity and basketball stuff that's all in the past."
