Tommy Fury defeats Jake Paul in Saudi Arabian clash

Jake Paul’s bout with Tommy Fury may have been a display of “limited” boxing ability, but it did however serve its purpose as an entertaining fight, writes Jamie Pandaram.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 26: Jake Paul punches Tommy Fury during the Cruiserweight Title fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena on February 26, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The Love Island guy beat the YouTube guy.

It was, however, a solid battle between two rivals of limited but relatively equal boxing ability.

Tommy Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, defeated Jake Paul via split decision; 76-73, 76-73 and 74-75.

Fury definitely won the fight, despite being deducted a point in the seventh and then being dropped by a jab in the eighth and final round.

Paul couldn’t deal with Fury’s incessant jab, and was hit flush by two uppercuts, a series of right hands and the occasional left hook.

Social media sensation Paul, undefeated in six previous professional bouts against the likes of washed up UFC fighters Anderson Silva and Tyrone Woodley, found his level in Fury, who moves to 9-0 (4KO).

They both have several more million in their bank accounts than they did yesterday, and deservedly so.

The customers ate up the pre-fight hype, the smack talk and the fighters brought the entertainment into the ring.

They’re not world class, but it was no less thrilling than many other cruiserweight bouts we’ve seen between world-ranked fighters.

Tommy Fury celebrates his victory. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Paul, 26, is showing that while he earned his fame through YouTube, he is developing nice boxing skills and belongs in the professional arena. Although he has met his level; any fighter under 30 years with a winning record of at least six fights will give him problems.

Fury, 23, has far more potential. The genetics help – his father John is also Tyson’s dad, but they have different mothers – and he moves around the ring well.

In the end, Fury landed 88 of 302 punches, with Paul landing just 49 of 157.

Fury does not have the one-punch power to trouble the top men in the cruiserweight division, but can use his celebrity to make far more than those who rule the division, including Australia’s own IBF champion Jai Opetaia.

Particularly in Saudi Arabia, where this bout was held and whose government pays obscene amounts of money to boxers and golfers so we might forget they also stone adulterers in soccer stadiums and hang homosexuals in their streets.

They put on a good show, though.

Despite a lack of pure boxing ability, the fight still entertained the masses. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

In between the fourth and fifth round, the ringside commentator Radio Rahim went to get the thoughts of Paul’s brother Logan.

“Either come back victorious, or come back on your shield,” Logan said. “I love you bro.”

Radio Rahim, mistakenly believing Logan was expressing affection for him, replied: “I love you too man”.

The cringe hit like a Julio Cesar Chavez body shot.

When Paul dropped Fury with a straight jab in the final round – Fury jumped straight back up – commentators and social media speculators suddenly believed the American had done enough to eke out victory.

As though the first six rounds, in which Englishman Fury outmanoeuvred and outboxed his rival, while Paul was deducted a point in the sixth for pushing down on Fury’s head, had all been much closer than first appeared.

This was all while Panamanian referee Hector Afu did his best to annoy the viewers by constantly interfering in clinches and exchanges – the third star of the show.

Fury controlled the majority of the fight before Paul scored a late knockdown. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Thankfully, two of the judges got it right.

Fury cried tears of joy.

The boos swirled in the arena as Paul said that in training camp: “I got sick really bad twice, I injured my arm”.

But he added, “no excuses”. Obviously.

Paul’s most fierce rival, fellow YouTube rapper and boxer KSI, immediately posted a video laughing maniacally while promoting his juice Prime.

Mike Tyson applauded both fighters from his ringside seat.

Only in boxing could you have so much nonsense that kind of makes sense.

Paul and Fury wandered off into the desert sunset, talking about the rematch.