‘Car crash’: Tommy Fury stuns Jake Paul as referee controversy erupts
The boxing world has been left blowing up over a controversial referee move in Jake Paul’s sensational boilover loss to Tommy Fury.
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Jake Paul has suffered the first defeat of his boxing career in a massive boilover loss to Tommy Fury.
Fury stunned the boxing world in Saudi Arabia on Monday morning, getting up off the canvass to win via a split judges’ decision.
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The fight has been embroiled in controversy with commentators raging at the referee over moments where he stepped in to take points off both fighters.
The undercard earlier delivered several explosive knockout wins and the drama went to another level in the main event.
Paul knocked Fury down in the final round but it was not enough to overcome Fury’s domination of the earlier rounds.
The judges awarded the victory to Fury via a 74-75, 76-73 x2 scorecard. Official stats showed Fury landed 88 punches compared to his opponent’s 49.
Both fighters after the bout agreed to a re-match and shared a classy moment of sportsmanship as they embraced in the ring.
Paul admitted after the fight that Fury deserved to win the contest, but also appeared to make excuses.
“I felt flat in there. I was really sick twice in this camp and I hurt my arm,” he said in the ring.
“I am not making excuses, but I was not 100 per cent. We want to run it back.”
Fury, meanwhile, was overcome with emotion after the fight and declared the result was the equivalent of winning a world title.
“These are tears of joy,” he said.
“Jake was a true warrior. He was a better man than I expected. He took good shots and he was much better than I thought he was.
“If he wants a rematch he can have it.”
While both fighters appeared content at the result, boxing commentators were scathing of the way the fight was refereed.
Paul was first docked a point for landing punches to the back of Fury’s head in the clinch. Fury also had a point taken off for doing the same thing in the sixth round as both fighters began to show severe fatigue.
Boxing world champion Shawn Porter said on the international TV broadcast: “It’s not fair. I don’t think either fighter is fighting dirty. It’ not dirty fighting. Both these guys are running their hands, doing what they have to do. At the end of the day, you cannot afford for the referee to be the reason this fight goes one way or another.
“This ref is really in the way. I wouldn’t say this ref is trying to be a superhero or MVP of this thing, but he’s just getting in the way. To defend the ref he is actually doing what he is supposed to do. But in some situations you just have to be a little more lenient.”
The Sun’s Wally Downs Jr described it as “car crash” officiating.
Combat sport journalist Chris Mannix said it was “embarrassing” from the referee.
“This is what bad refereeing looks like,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Referee takes a point from Jake Paul. Absolutely embarrassing. This referee has been a presence in this fight since the opening bell. He thinks the people are here to see him.”
Leading MMA journalist Ariel Helwani called the referee a “fraud”.
High profile boxing commentator Teddy Atlas wrote the referee should retire.
There was earlier last-minute drama when the event was rocked by a fake so-called “script” being leaked by boxing rival, accusing the fight of being fixed.
Veteran fighter Mike Perry uploaded a photo to his Twitter page alleging it to be the “script” of the fight between Paul and Fury. Promoters have insisted the “script” is entirely false.
Just moments before making his walk to the ring, Paul said: “They came for a show and I’m going to put on a show.
Jake Paul is walking out #PaulFurypic.twitter.com/yaw21cFULJ
— Amy Kaplan (@PhotoAmy33) February 26, 2023
“I’m excited, but really it’s just another sparring session. I’m gonna go out there, rob the bank, catch a body and go home.”
There were also boos from the crowd as Paul delayed the fight by several minutes, refusing to leave his dressing room in a blatant attempt to get into his opponent’s head.
Fury was also booed by the crowd as he was introduced in the ring by Michael Buffer.
Paul certainly delivered on his promise to put on a show and the Youtuber has won more respect as a legitimate fighter for his display in the ring.
Fake ‘script’ leaked before Paul-Fury fight
The back-up fighter for Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury has leaked a so-called “script” for the fight, but promoters have insisted it is fake.
Veteran fighter Mike Perry uploaded a photo to his Twitter page alleging it to be the “script” of the fight between Paul and Fury.
Despite Perry’s baseless online accusation, representatives for the promoters in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that the allegations are completely false, The Sun reports.
They said: “We can confirm, it’s fake.”
Furthermore, Troop Boxing Promotions does not even exist, according to Google.
According to the document: “Paul lands huge right hand that sends Fury crashing to the canvas.
“The ringside doctor rushes in to check on Fury, but he waves him away.
“Tommy shall then act out an eye injury that forces the referee to call off the fight, declaring Jake Paul the winner by TKO.”
The so-called script suggests “The Problem Child” will walk out in a baby outfit mocking his opponent while Fury will dedicate his costume to his wife (Molly Mae) and new-born child.
There was a brutal fan backlash after Perry posted the photo with some calling the fighter “sad”.
Badou Jack knocks out champion
Badou Jack is the new WBC cruiserweight world champion after he destroyed Ilungu Makabu in the co-main event.
Jack “The Ripper” lived up to his reputation by consistently landing power shots, twice knocking Makabu to the floor on his way to becoming a three-division world champion.
The fight was stopped in the 12th round when Jack began to pummel his opponent with a flurry of shots when Makabu was caught on the ropes.
Makabu was first dropped by Jack in the fourth round, bringing the crowd to their feet.
The fight appeared close to being stopped in the 11th round when Makabu fell to the floor again.
It was all over when Jack landed another right-hand bomb in the 12th round and proceeded to batter his opponent before the referee stepped in.
Jake Paul makes dramatic arrival
Jake Paul arrived at the Diriyah Arena in another bold ensemble.
The American arrived wearing a black balaclava, trucker cap and his trademark jewellery bling.
Paul appeared to be in the zone as he walked through to his locker room not giving anything away.
Paul also sported a diamond necklace with his nickname “PRBLM CHILD” emblazoned on it.
The 26-year-old also declined to do a backstage interview in the lead-up to the fight.
Tyson Fury places $180k bet on brother
Heavyweight legend Tyson Fury has placed an insane bet on his brother to knock Jake Paul out.
The boxing icon has based his $180,000 wager on Tommy’s record on sparing practice.
Fury has been so impressed with his brother in training that he is confident that he will beat the American.
The Gypsy King insisted that the 23-year-old almost knocks out all of his partners that he faces in sparing ahead of the grudge match.
Fury told iFL TV: “Tommy knocks out 90 per cent of people that he spars with or drops them at least, so he’s a very hard puncher and Jake Paul will find that out tomorrow.
“I’ve got 100 racks on it for an inside-the-distance stoppage, so if he loses, then I’ll lose 100 bags as well. I’ve got him at 3-1.
“I know Tommy is going to knock him out.
“What is a little bit stupid is I see all these experts and professional boxers picking Jake Paul over Tommy.
“I’m like, ‘What the hell are these guys watching?’, because Tommy will absolutely deck him.
“I think Tommy can get him out of there whenever really.
“It’ll definitely be inside the distance and it won’t be a points job for sure. Tommy wins by knockout.”
Big money issue surrounding Jake Paul fight
Paul and Fury have been trading verbal barbs for years and now it’s time to settle the long-running feud between the pair.
It’s all on the line for Fury with his father John and his half-brother Tyson, the heavyweight boxing king of the world, stating Tommy will be out of the family if he loses.
Paul is out to prove to the world he’s a legitimate star in the boxing ring as he looks to silence the doubters by taking down a professional boxer.
But as the fight draws closer the disparity between the two has been laid bare with Paul set to earn the lion’s share of the cut.
The former YouTuber is set to take home a $A4.76 million purse as well as taking home 65 per cent of the pay-per-view sales, according to Sports Zion.
It means he could pocket a staggering $12.8 million should he emerge victorious.
For the British Fury, he’ll pocket a much smaller sum of cash with a $2.97 million purse plus 35 per cent of the PPV. It means a victory could result in a $6.69 million payday.
Paul’s damning threat ahead of showdown
Jake Paul has vowed to knock Tommy Fury out in decisive fashion – and finally earn the respect he feels is due.
The YouTuber-turned prize-fighter warned Fury will be left brutally unconscious – like the other victims on his record.
And the savage nature of victory would leave no more doubt on his so-far polarising career as a boxer.
“I know I’m going to win but my goal is to knock him out and I know I’m capable of that if I execute my game plan properly,” Paul told SunSport.
“So I think knocking out the professional boxer in a cold, deceive, crazy way like I knock people out, that will get the respect.
“If it’s just a win, I think people will admit I can really box but it won’t be the full level of respect that I think I deserve.
“I have to earn it though on Sunday.”
Originally published as ‘Car crash’: Tommy Fury stuns Jake Paul as referee controversy erupts
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