While Sulaiman has previously defended Paul’s dedication to the sport, his stance has shifted following recent events. He noted that the lack of professional fundamentals among influencers makes them highly vulnerable to serious injury, especially when facing seasoned or much larger opponents.

The WBC president stressed that although these matches attract massive audiences and new fans, safety must remain the priority. He urged influencers who truly love the sport to transition into roles as promoters or supporters rather than continuing to risk their lives inside the ring.

“Very dangerous, because boxing is not a game. You cannot play boxing; it is a high-risk contact sport that depends on excellent physical preparation and the conditions of the individuals,” Sulaiman stated.

The risks of influencer bouts

The president’s comments follow the controversial “Ring Royale 2026,” which drew criticism from boxing legends like Juan Manuel Marquez. Sulaiman backed these concerns, stating that the novelty of celebrity fights is reaching a dangerous breaking point that requires stricter medical regulations and professional supervision.

While figures like Jake Paul have provided significant exposure to the sport, Sulaiman believes the focus needs to return to the integrity of professional rankings. He warned that without proper regulation, the current trend of “super-fights” between influencers and veterans could eventually lead to a tragedy in the ring.

“They are ruining boxing—the YouTubers, the influencers,” Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez said. “It just shouldn’t be possible. I respect them, right? But I don’t like that kind of thing because they don’t have a process. What do I mean by that? There is no amateur process. These YouTubers don’t train. Some of them don’t even run, exercise, or go to the gym.”

What is next for Jake Paul?

Jake Paul is currently at a crossroads in his career after his high-profile bout against Anthony Joshua in late 2025. Despite being ranked in the cruiserweight division, the WBC has made it clear that Paul must defeat a top-15 ranked contender to be considered for a world title shot.

During his bout against Joshua, Jake Paul suffered a double fractured jaw, raising concerns about whether influencers should box. However, the YouTuber is determined to continue his career in the sport despite this massive setback.

Honestly, the boxing world and its millions of fans around the globe did not expect Alvarez to taste defeat against Dmitry Bivol. After being crowned the first undisputed World Super middleweight Champion, he has an air of invincibility about him.

However, the unexpected happened and the castles that Canelo Alvarez inhabited seemed to be sustained in the air, in the clouds, as they vanished, returning him to a reality, to a mortal condition that led him, among other things, to lose his status as Pound for Pound King in all the renowned lists that award such distinction.

Mauricio Sulaiman points out the injustice that Canelo Alvarez suffers

If there is one organization that has always been close to Canelo Alvarez, it is the WBC. The first World Champiohsip won by the Guadalajara native, the 154-pounder, was from that organization. Thus, the current president, Mauricio Sulaiman expressed his support again for Alvarez by pointing out that the fact that he is no longer considered the best boxer in the world is an injustice, and explained why.

“I have Canelo as the number one pound-for-pound…As I said, if you look at the list – Inoue, Haney, but you know, Canelo it is unfair to simply just drop him out. He lost a fight that he did not need to take – he moved up in weight. But I still think you know, he’s been there for several years. And it’s so easy just to throw them out. But I don’t like to be that way“, stated Sulaimanto Planet Sport.

Regarding everything surrounding the making of the Pound for Pound list of the best boxers, compiled by ESPN and The Ring Magazine, among others, Mauricio Sulaiman described it as nothing more than a fun game, and invited to question how serious it can really be.

“The pound-for-pound list is a very it’s a fun game, but now for those who take it very seriously, they have to be struggling very hard. This year we have had results that are unbelievable…For those who enjoy doing the pound-for-pound, they’re going to have a good time but a very challenging time because it’s not easy. There are so many great fighters out there that can claim to be the pound-for-pound king.“, said the WBCpresident.