YouTuber Jake Paul will finally face off with boxer Tommy Fury in a bout that has been in the works for two years. The duo is now set to settle their differences in Saudi Arabia next month, according to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger.
The pair was initially slated to fight in December 2021, but it was pulled because of Fury’s rib injury and visa issues. This was then rearranged for August, but that fell apart as well due to Fury being denied entry into the United States.
What’s the deal?
Jake Paul is making a final push to settle his long-running fight with Tommy Fury, offering his rival a hometown bout in Manchester next month. This would mark the first time that the Brit has fought since the last time he signed a deal with Paul, which saw him take on Anderson Silva in October.
The pair have been on a collision course for over a year now, with both bouts having been cancelled after Fury pulled out due to injuries. The first fight was set for December 2021 but Fury pulled out of the contest because of a broken rib and bacterial chest infection. The second fight was scheduled for August 2022 but the British boxer’s visa was denied, which forced him to withdraw from the bout as well.
Despite all of this, the duo are still keen to make a fight happen. As such, they recently tabled a new deal for a clash that’s set to take place in February.
While the details of this fight are yet to be revealed, it’s a move that would seem to have been made for good reason. Both fighters have a long and rocky history with one another, which has led to some heated exchanges between them in the boxing ring.
Both have a strong social media presence and can be seen regularly bickering on Twitter. They also have a long history of barbed exchanges outside the ring, which have included accusations that Fury’s model girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague flirtatiously messaged him in 2018.
However, it seems as though Paul may be taking a different approach to this latest fight, as he has apparently offered a whopping $2.5 million to his opponent. This amount is believed to be the biggest payday for a non-championship fight in boxing history, which is sure to please Fury.
Regardless, this fight should be an absolute cracker and could even set up a future undisputed heavyweight title challenge for the 23-year-old British boxer. The last time he was in the boxing ring, he beat former UFC champion Anderson Silva by decision and is looking to continue improving his credentials against opponents with real pro boxing experience.
Who’s the favourite?
The fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will take place on February 26 in Saudi Arabia. This is the third attempt at a bout between these two and it was originally scheduled to take place in December 2021, but they both withdrew due to medical and travel concerns.
The betting market is now heavily backing Jake Paul, who opened as a -190 favourite to win the fight. Paul is undefeated as a professional boxer, winning 3 of his last 5 fights.
He defeated Anderson Silva in his last fight by a unanimous decision and is looking to make it three wins in a row when he faces Fury. He is also a former amateur boxer, having won two regional titles and reached an ABA final in his amateur career.
Paul has a lot of pedigree, having faced some of the top fighters in the world, including Tyron Woodley and Ben Askren. He’s had some interesting battles, including one against YouTuber AnEsonGib that was a close affair, and another with Nate Robinson that ended in a draw.
Despite his impressive record, Paul hasn’t had the toughest opponents along the way. He’s beaten a few random names that don’t have much in common with him at all, including Nate Diaz and Gervonta Davis, who are both multiple weight classes above him.
This is a big step up for Fury and should be a great fight. He hasn’t faced anyone as good as Paul, but he’s got some experience in the boxing ring and the name Tyson Fury on his side, so he should be a tough opponent.
His jab is a bit weaker than Paul’s and he lacks the head movement to generate torque from his hips and drive into his punches, which could result in him eating more of Jake’s right hands.
While he’s not a big name, Fury has some boxing experience under his belt and will be a tough test for the young problem child. He’s a former Love Island contestant and he fought on the undercard of his brother’s fight with Tyron Woodley in August.
What will the fight be like?
YouTube star Jake Paul and Tommy Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight champion Tyson, are set to finally face off in the boxing ring after two failed attempts. They’ve been officially announced for a February 26 bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The fight has been in the works for a while and both sides want it to happen. This is a mega-bout and it’s a huge opportunity for both fighters to showcase their talent in front of the world.
In a matchup that should be incredibly exciting, Paul will get his chance to face a true boxer for the first time. He’s fought a lot of amateur boxers and social media stars who aren’t even regarded as professional, but it’s going to be tough for him to beat an opponent with the kind of background that Fury has.
Paul has a 6-0 record and he’s won over some of the best MMA fighters in the sport, including Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. But the last time he faced a boxer, he was knocked out by Daniel Bocianski. That’s not a good sign for a fighter who has so much potential.
That said, Fury’s 8-0 record is impressive too and he has the skills to keep the fight interesting for long periods of time. He’s got a fast jab and his technique seems to work well. But he’s also a bit awkward with his head movements and lacks the torque from his hips that could really hurt Paul.
If he’s going to get past this, then he’ll have to be strong and use his speed in the opening rounds. If he can’t, then he’ll be in for a long night.
He will need to be able to make a big impression in the ring and get his fans excited. But he’ll also have to be the type of boxer that he wants to be.
The match-up between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury is one that’s been in the works for a while, and they have both been waiting for this fight to happen since they were children. They were first expected to fight in December 2021, but it was called off after Fury had to pull out due to a broken rib and a bacterial chest infection.
Who will win?
The YouTube star Jake Paul is finally set to take on his half-brother Tommy Fury in an upcoming boxing match. The fight is slated to take place on February 26 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia and will be available via ESPN+ PPV. The card will feature several other top pugilists including Badou Jack, Ilunga Makabu and Ashton Sylve.
In the main event, Paul will take on undefeated boxer Fury, who has an 8-0 record with one win by knockout. The 23-year-old is the younger brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, and he’s a big name on the professional circuit.
He’s a former amateur boxer, and he’s won three of his last five bouts. He defeated Tyron Woodley in August 2021 by split decision, and then beat Anderson Silva by unanimous decision a few months later. He landed more than 100 punches in each of his victories, so it’s hard to see him getting smoked.
However, his ring rust could be an issue, especially considering that he hasn’t fought since November 2021. He’s also been more active than Fury, who has a combined record of 25-177-5.
Despite his activity, Paul’s boxing skills are improving by the day and he’s a real threat against the likes of Fury. Unlike Fury, who’s a natural fighter who’s more known for his antics outside the ring, Paul has shown he can take on some of the best in the game.
His striking is a little erratic at times, but he does have a solid jab and his straight right hand should be able to rattle Fury when it lands. His power isn’t that strong, though, and he hasn’t been a particularly good knockout artist in his career so far.
He’s a decent favourite with bookmakers to win the fight, and he’s currently 4/6 (-150) to win outright, while you can get 7/5 (+140) on Fury. This price has shortened by 23/-20 (-90). He’s also a solid bet to win the televised main event, and you can get 4/6 (-150) on him to win the fight on points.
