His first five fights as a professional were against a mix of internet stars and MMA stars-turned-boxers, but now Paul is facing the first legitimate boxer since turning pro in January 2020 in the form of heavyweight prospect Hasim Rahman Jr. 

Rahman Jr. is the son of a former world heavyweight champion, and Paul's sparring partner Anthony Taylor believes Paul is taking a huge risk in facing a talent like Rahman Jr. this early in his professional boxing career. 

“Hasim Rahman Jr. is very experienced. Jake is my boy, but this is very tough for him," Taylor told Vegas Insider. 

"Hasim is a fighter Jake should be taking on ten fights into his career, not this early. He should be fighting Hasim when he’s 10-0, not 5-0. He’s taking five steps forward.

"Hasim is a much tougher fight than Tommy Fury would have been; Tommy has no pedigree or amateur background like Hasim does. Hasim would be the perfect fight in five fights' time.

"So you have to give Jake credit, he wants to prove people wrong and I think he can do it. He can outpoint this guy, he’ll prove people wrong.

"It’s a big risk when you talk about losing your undefeated record. If Jake loses, then that’s just one lost on his record, a lot of great fighters had losses on their record. Not everybody can be a Mayweather.”