In a win that helped him gain a following, on July 12, 1929, Paul defeated former flyweight contender Emil Paluso in a six round unanimous decision in Buffalo.

[8] Paul's first clear win over Filipino boxer Johnny Datto came in a six round unanimous decision at the Broadway Auditorium in Buffalo on January 1, 1930.

Paul dominated Datto with a two handed attack in the third round which included vicious left hooks to the mid-section and punches to the chin.

[11] Paul defeated Archie Bell on January 24, 1930, in an important early victory at Detroit's Olympia Stadium in a ten round points decision.

[12] He faced the legendary reigning bantamweight champion Panama Al Brown in Buffalo, New York on March 14, 1930, with the bout ending in a six round draw.

[2] Paul first defeated Bushy Graham, former NYSAC world bantamweight champion, on November 14, 1930, in a ten round unanimous decision in Buffalo.

[13] He fought 1941 world featherweight contender Phil Zwick in Philadelphia on April 6, 1931, winning in a ten round unanimous decision.

In one of his most complete and skillfully planned victories, Paul continuously circled right around his southpaw opponent's deadly, accurate left hand.

On February 6, 1932, Paul defeated Pete DeGrasse before 2,084 spectators in Detroit's Olympic Stadium in a ten round points decision.

In a late rally, Paul took the tenth convincingly with a two fisted attack that along with the second round knockdown turned the final points scoring in his favor.

Scotty Montieth, the organizer of the NBA world featherweight tournament, used the outcome of the bout to move Paul along to the next round, but was also impressed with DeGrasse's performance.

[20][21] Paul defeated Bushy Graham on April 8, 1932, in a ten round points decision at Detroits's Olympia Stadium, in his first bout of the NBA world featherweight elimination tournament.

Graham, who was warned three times by the referee for avoiding and not actively engaging his opponent, danced and used his fancy footwork throughout the bout, but was booed my many for throwing far too few punches at Paul.

[22][23][24][25] Paul defeated Frankie Wallace on April 29, 1932, by a ten round decision in the last semi-final bout of the NBA world featherweight elimination tournament in Detroit.

[26][27] In the final round of the tournament on May 26, 1932, Paul faced Johnny Pena for the vacant National Boxing Association World featherweight title in Detroit, Michigan.

By the tenth round, Paul was tiring, but he caught Pena with a blow to the cheek that caused his opponent's knees to buckle momentarily.

[2] In a rare and stunning victory, Paul defeated Fidel LaBarba in a ten round mixed decision at Chicago Stadium.

Before 5,296 spectators on December 29, 1932, Paul managed to outbox and outfight the more experienced LaBarba in a victory that removed most remaining doubts that he had a right to the world featherweight title.

[31][2] Before a slim depression era crowd of 5,000, Paul lost the featherweight world title to Freddie Miller at Chicago Stadium in a close fifteen round unanimous decision on January 13, 1933.

For much of the remainder of the bout, Miller swung his left to the jaw and right to the head effectively, taking a commanding lead in points scoring.

[32][33] In an important contest, Paul drew with future NBA world featherweight champion, Syrian-American Petey Sarron in eight rounds on April 25, 1933, in Alexandria, Virginia.

[35] On May 22, 1934, Paul drew with former world junior lightweight champion, Cuban boxer Kid Chocolate in a ten round points decision before a modest crowd of 4,500 at Los Angeles's Olympic Stadium.

The Kid appeared ahead going into the final round, but a fast rally by Paul stemmed the tide, and the referee declared a draw decision.