YouTube star Jake Paul has enjoyed an impressive start to his professional boxing career and is 66/1 to win a world title in 2023.

Fresh off the back of his most significant win in the ring to date - a gruelling points victory over former UFC world champion Anderson Silva in October - 25-year-old Paul has set his sights on further scalps in the new year on the road to what he believes will see him claim a world title of his own.

Paul has been given odds of 66/1 to win any WBA/WBC/WBO/IBF belt in 2023.

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Considering his Disney background and the fact he has only been boxing for four years, the thought of Jake Paul ever contending for a world title is likely to be met with derision by many connected to the sport.

However, the American has undeniably shown a marked and rapid improvement since turning professional at the beginning of 2020, with a record of 6-0-0.

Knockout victories over YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA star Nate Robinson and ex-Bellator champion Ben Askren displayed Paul's one-punch knockout power, a major asset for any fighter, before the Ohio-born celebrity continued to up the level of his opponents. 

Coached by a former world title contender himself in BJ Flores, Paul has taken great strides as a boxer against two ex-UFC world champions in Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva.

Paul was dragged into deep waters by former UFC Welterweight Champion Woodley in their first bout in August 2021, winning a narrow Split Decision, before knocking out the 40-year-old in devastating fashion in a rematch four months later to once again highlight his punching power.

Jake Paul's undoubted best win on his resume arrived in October 2022, when faced with a man viewed by many as one of the greatest martial artists of all time in former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.

Although aged 47, 22 years Paul's senior, Silva is regarded as an excellent striker and had previous boxing experience prior to his clash with the young American having beaten both former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and ex-UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz in professional bouts in 2021.

Jake Paul's ability to overcome Anderson Silva via Unanimous Decision over 8 rounds in Arizona is therefore no mean feat, in a performance which underlined both his heart and ever-improving boxing IQ.

What Jake Paul decides to do next in his professional boxing career remains unclear, with the potential for a third fight to be ordered against British prospect Tommy Fury, younger brother of Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, perhaps in the pipeline after the Brit was forced to pull out of two lined up bouts with the American during 2022.

Tommy Fury is just one of a host of possible opponents for Paul in the new year, with the 25-year-old Ohioan having also called out the likes of established fighters Nate Diaz, Conor McGregor and Canelo Alvarez, as well as long-time YouTube rival KSI.

You can read more about what could be next for Jake Paul here.

James Wilson

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