Hasim Rahman Jr wants to challenge bridgerweight champion Oscar Rivas after his ring showdown with Jake Paul.
YouTube star Paul was set to face long-term rival Tommy Fury this August but the Briton was banned from travelling to the US which saw the fight collapse. Paul r eplaced Fury with Rahman Jr, who holds a professional record of 12-1 and will step in at short notice in New York next month.
Rahman Jr is looking to bounce back after suffering his first career defeat against James Morrison last time out. He believes that a victory over Paul would raise his profile and see him one step closer to a future world title shot.
"I want to fight in big fights and continue to fight in big fights," Rahman Jr explained to Morning Kombat when asked what may lie ahead after facing Paul next month. "In my mind right now I am only going to be looking at the champions. So whoever I have to fight next to get in there with Oscar Rivas, that is the belt that I have on my mind.
"That is the belt I want, I want to have the bridgerweight world title so whatever I have to do to fight Oscar Rivas, who fights a week after me and Jake. He fights for the bridgerweight world title and if he wins that will be my goal when it comes to September. Nothing has changed, but defeating Jake Paul will just increase my popularity."
Rivas will fight undefeated challenger Lukasz Rozanski as he continues to campaign in the new weight class, that he first picked up the world title in 2021 with victory over Ryan Rozicki. Rahman Jr will first need to negotiate the test of undefeated Paul, who will take on a natural boxer for the first time in his five-fight career.
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Paul has stepped in the ring with the likes of former UFC stars Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren but has faced criticism for his lack of full-time boxing opponents. Rahman Jr is looking to become the first man to beat Paul and derail his boxing career with the likes of Mike Tyson and Nate Diaz lined up next for the boxing star.
Rahman Jr believes he will provide the toughest examination of Paul's credentials and plans to silence critics with a win on August 6. "They don't annoy me," Rahman Jr told Ariel Helwani during an appearance on The MMA Hour when discussing his upcoming bout. "It's just that I like to see the look on people's faces afterwards.
"Dana White's not the only person, there's a few whose faces I can't wait to see after I punish this kid, because they know better. Look at Tim Bradley, Eddie Hearn, Dana White just to name a few. Their faces are going to be like 'man, I knew it,' but that's not what you said so you need to stand on what you say after I punish this kid who has been in the ring six times."
