Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury – who wins?
‘The Problem Child’ and ‘TNT’ finally agree to settle rivalry
Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) and Queensberry Promotions announced YouTube sensation Jake ‘The Problem Child’ Paul (6-0, 4KO) will face undefeated pro boxer Tommy ‘TNT’ Fury (8-1, 4KO), younger brother of Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, February 26, 2023, in an event produced by Skill Challenge Entertainment Enterprises.
Jake Paul has never fought against a professional boxer before and Tommy Fury's career hasn't ever picked up any momentum with just eight fights in over four years. Because of this, the bookies' odds are very even and see-sawing all the time.
So BBN asked their panel of experts who they believe wins this grudge fight and why:
Ricky Hatton, Two-weight world champion
“They are big names in the social media world, aren't they? I think Tommy's got good ability with boxing, good punching power. Love Island was about three years ago now… and I'd have like to think he'd have had more rounds. He looked a little bit tired in his last six-rounder in the last round. I think if he'd had a couple of more six-rounders, maybe an eight-rounder, where he'd been fighting a bit more regularly, the outcome of this fight would be a foregone conclusion for me. I think Tommy beats him all day long.
“But what gives Jake Paul half a chance is, even though Tommy's the boxer, Jake's done more rounds than him. Which is a little bit of a concern, because Tommy is head and shoulders the better kid but it could just be the wrong time. I think Tommy wins, don't get me wrong. We're all right behind him.”
Tyson Fury, WBC world heavyweight champion
“If Tommy can't splatter Jake Paul, I'll retire him from boxing myself. If he can't beat Jake Paul, then forget about boxing because he's got ambitions of being a world champion.
“It's a great fight for the social media world, but if Tommy has got any ambitions on being a world champion… his name's Fury, if he can't beat Jake Paul, I'll have to change his name.”
Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing promoter
“Jake Paul is levels above any fighter Tommy Fury has ever boxed. Shows you his resume, but I've watched some of Tommy and he hasn't looked very good recently.
“Tommy Fury is unbelievably limited. But can he fight? If he can fight, if he's actually a genuine prospect then he'll beat Jake Paul. If he's not and he's not very good, he'll get beat, but I quite like the fight.
“I think he'll mess with Tommy mentally, and I think, I just think by the time they get in the ring, if they do get in the ring, I think Tommy will be defeated before the fight even takes place. I think Jake Paul will win by knockout.”
Tom Aspinall, UFC heavyweight star
“It's a 50-50 fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury. I like Jake Paul, and Tommy Fury is a mate of mine, I've known him since he was 14 years old. I've not seen him train for a while but I spoke to his brother recently, Roman Fury. And Roman said he's really turned a corner in his training. He said something has switched in him and he's looking amazing in the gym and has really turned the corner, and I guess that's true because Roman's not said that on any media outlet, he wasn't saying it to big Tommy up – sometimes people say things to the media that aren't true. Roman said it in a private situation, so if he's saying that I believe that's the truth and I think it's going to be a 50-50 fight.”
Ben Davison, Trainer
“I wouldn't call that YouTube boxing. Jake Paul has come from that YouTube background but he's committed himself in a way that a lot of professionals don't, he's probably more dedicated than a lot of professionals out there, that's my opinion anyway, so I wouldn't call that a YouTube fight; it's a big fight.”
KSI, Misfits Boxing promoter
“I'm gonna be watching, keeping a close eye to see if Jake has improved or see what he's gonna do, see if he wins, and if Tommy wins then I'll be fighting Tommy, simple as that!”
David Benavidez, Two-time WBC super-middleweight champion
“I think Jake Paul knocks him out in the second round. Yeah, you know Paul has been working little bit harder and what wins overall is hardwork and if you see Tommy Fury's career compared to Jake Paul.
“Jake Paul, I mean a lot of people would say what they want to, but he's been working.”
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor
“I have not been a fan of Jake Paul's career and how he's talked himself up as breaking boundaries when he's never fought a professional boxer before. I like Jake as a person, he's entertaining and successful, but, as an athlete, I'm not impressed. Beating Anderson Silva in a boxing fight, who was a retired 47-year-old ex-MMA fighter, is not credible, in my opinion. Also, saying he's acheiving things that other 3-0, 4-0 boxers aren't, well that's because a 3-0 prospect from England works 9-5 every day and fits their roadwork in at 5am and their gym sessions at 7pm, then runs round selling tickets and don't have a million pound to invest in their training camp in Puerto Rico and fly sparring partners out from all over the world. He just doesn't represent boxing in any sense of the word.
“Tommy Fury, as a professional boxer with an amateur career, should have the fundamentals that all of Paul's opponents to date would have lacked. His amateur stint was short, just 12 bouts, but winning two regional titles and reaching an ABA final is highly impressive.
“Jake Paul is very raw and lacks boxing skills, but what he lacks in skill, he makes up for in power. He does possess a very powerful right hand, but it's inaccurate and telegraphed. That said, he still manages to land it… against non-boxers, but can he land it against a professional boxer though?
“I like Fury's jab – his style of crouching low and flicking it up from an awkward angle. He appears to have fast hands, but he lacks movement from the waist up. He doesn't generate any torque from his hips to drive into his punches, so doesn't possess much power. His last knockdown against Daniel Bocianski was his strongest straight right hand he could muster, but his opponent was back to his feet in no time. His lack of head movement could see him eat a lot of right hands from Jake Paul.
“Paul freezes up when he takes shots on his guard, like a novice does, so Fury should take advantage of that brief moment where he'll have a stationary opponent in front of him. When Paul backs up and tucks up tight, that should present the opportunity to just tap away on his gloves while lining up a big shot downstairs. Paul does show heart and toughness, so targeting a knockout to the body might be more advisable than to the head, because he has taken some big shots and barely blinked.
“Tommy Fury should win, but it's more of a case that he has to win! If he loses to a YouTuber then there's no way back for him in his boxing career. He's going up against a YouTuber who has only beaten non-boxers over the age of 35, so losing would make him a laughing stock. Tommy has never lost a round as a pro, so the odds should be in his favour as the better boxer with a deeper pedigree in the sport. We haven't seen his chin tested yet, as his opposition has been very low in quality so far, so there's no way of telling if he can take a punch or not.
“I believe Paul's best chance is to clinch and hold and make things messy, then launch that right hand when in close. Fury should use his jab and faster hands to outbox Paul, but I wouldn't advise him to go looking for the knockout because I don't think he has the power. When Paul's inferior footwork sees him backing up in awkwards lines, use that as a chance to unload punches in bunches and keep him off-guard and out of shape. If he truly believes in his boxing skills, which is what he has been born into and lived and breathed his entire life, then show that superiority to outbox and outclass Paul for the whole eight rounds.”
Viddal Riley, YouTuber / Unbeaten cruiserweight
“I honestly think Jake is going to win this thing!”
Kyle Newman, Oddschecker
“After opening up as an underdog for the first time in his career, Jake Paul has quickly become the favourite. The books are now massively backing the undefeated former YouTube star.
“When the markets opened, Paul was given +150 odds, but in less than two weeks, he’s now moved to -200. That’s a change from an implied 40% chance to a 60% chance to win the fight. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury, who opened at -200, is now given +160 odds or an implied 38.5% chance to win the fight.
“Paul has been favoured to win every fight of his career to this point. He’s almost always heavily bet on to win his fights, as his rabid fanbase is always one to back him. They’re back at it now, as he hasn’t let them down yet.
“Bettors are back at it backing Jake Paul. The former YouTube star has never fought a trained boxer or a fighter under 35, and he’ll get both when he takes on Fury.
“Fury is an undefeated boxer in his own right, having won his eight bouts. So who’s right? Were the books right in their initial thoughts that a young, professionally trained boxer is too much for Paul, or are bettors right and Paul’s going to show the world he’s for real in the ring?”
