YouTube boxer Jake Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) clashes with Tommy Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) for a WBC cruiserweight ranking on an ESPN+ PPV this Sunday from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Here are some press conference highlights:
Jake Paul: “I’m so excited for this fight because I can finally silence the critics who have said, ‘Fiight a professional boxer, fight someone your age.’ I agree. I haven’t proven that. But this is why this fight is so big. This is why I’m so excited. This is why I’ve given this guy multiple chances and paid him so much money to finally show up. And it really seemed like the only time he wanted to get into the ring is when I increased the amount of money. So, thankfully he’s here now.”
Tommy Fury: “You’re getting put to sleep inside four rounds. Let me tell you. I’m not an old man. I’m a fresh, young fighter. I’m going to put you away. You had two very lucky escapes from this fight. You should have taken those escapes. You should not be sitting here right now because this is bad for you. You should have stuck to making easy money fighting old men and celebrities. I’m coming to take your head off.”
While Paul-Fury gets top billing, the actual reigning WBC cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu (29-2, 25 KOs) will defend his title against former two-weight world champion Badou Jack (27-3-3, 16 KOs) in the co-feature.
Ilunga Makabu: “I just want Badou to keep one thing in mind. I’m going to break your nose. I’m going to break your chin. I’m going to break your ribs. Thank you…I’ve been a world champion for many years. I’m a dangerous boxer. There is no way Badou can take my belt. I’ll go back home with the belt and still be the WBC champion of the world.”
Badou Jack: “I’m here to take his belt, to win. I’m here to become the first Muslim fighter to become a world champion in Saudi. So, I am here to make history. Everybody’s got a plan until they get hit. I’m glad that he is confident…I still feel young. I feel fresh. I want to keep going, and I am here to make history. Some people, they win a title in one weight class. I won in two weight classes. Now, I’m coming for the third. And new!”
What a surprise the wbc made a belt for a fight between two novices. The diriyah belt…… The belt every kid dreamed of achieving growing up
Wow, this fight is for a cruiserweight ranking? Cruiserweight division must be struggling to keep the division alive so “any” fight will get a person ranked.
There used to be a time when the cruiserweight division was hot with the likes of James Tony and Vasily Jirov. Such a classic fight.
Those guys fought at Cruiser, but the division was never hot. Just those two guys beating everyone else until they fought, and Toney chomped him down.
They are really heavyweights-all these made up divisions just made the sport more confusing and less interesting for the average sports fan.
Cruiserweight division has always had a lot of talent. So many cruisers have attempted to fight as heavies but were just too small. Talk about classic Cruiserweight battles, who can forget the Camden Buzzsaw-Holyfield! In very recent history,there were a few smoking hot Cruiserweights coming up that just kinda faded off to nowhere. Now this crap?
And the actual cruiserweight champion has to fight in the co-feature fight. But, I guess the show that draws the bigger interest and crowd probably then deserves to be the top billing. Crazy, but it seems to work that way.
The ranking system in boxing is disgustingly corrupt. Just take a look at the WBO junior welterweight ranks. Jack Catteral throws Taylor a beating, gets robbed, gets a rematch, which Taylor pulls out of for no reason except to fight Teofimo Lopez instead. Catteral then goes from number 2 to number 4. Liam Paro, who was ranked 1, gets a first round KO of the year type knockout over Brock Jarvis and gets moved to 3. Teofimo Lopez, who looked like crap in his last fight leapfrogs these 2 into the 1 position. Arnold Barbosa, who didn’t look like a world beater by any means, moves to 2. What do they have in common? They are promoted by Slimeball Arum. So this fight being for a ranking doesn’t surprise me. It’s actually not nearly as bad as these WBO shenanigans.
With four organizations, each with seventeen divisions, pretty much everybody will be ranked. Of course they have to pay for higher rankings.
Uuh, no…that’s not correct…take your blinders off and remove the cognitive dissonance. This particular case is about privilege and money, nothing more, nothing less. So, a top 10 ranking to the victor would realistically put one of these stiffs in line to face the winner of Mkabu/Jack in a voluntary? GT*OH! Money can’t buy you everything. Oh and Jake Paul wears large amounts of jewelry on his person btw…please comment on that.
I’ll comment on it!! Jake Paul is a wigger POS!!
Tell us that you’re a racist without telling us you’re a racist
Paul is a professional troll just like Floyd and conor mcgregor. Talking sht draws the idiots in to watch.
But seriously Who gives a fk what he wears? What kind of childish comment is that?
Had a quick look at Fury’s record. OMG, he has been fighting corpses. Jack-Makabu has the potential to be a good one.
Does anyone know what time EST this event starts?
tommy fury will KO Jake paul
Paul is a pretty big favorite so the oddsmakers already know how this turns out.
Jake Paul is going to win. Next.
I feel you are right. Hate him or hate him, the guy has a very winning attitude and comes in with huge momentum and self belief. That will get him past Tommy Fury and probably a lot of other low ranking fighters, but it’s a different ball game at the top.
I hate to say this but sorta interested in seeing this. Jake brought a niece of mine from watching him, to watching Serrano, and now interested in boxing overall, so i appreciate that.
@dan: Agree. Jake is bringing the average half interested fans to want to watch. If he wins and he get ranked, that is also the end of him because then it all gets a lot tougher. So let him and the fans enjoy the journey while it lasts.
Why would fight fans care so much to see a guy with no amateur boxing experience and didnt start Boxing 5 years ago. Boxing takes a ton of hard work and dedication to get to the world class pro level. It takes time!!!
Paul talks a lot and attracts a lot of hate but the expectation for Paul is unrealistic. Thats the main reason I want to see him win. Fury should be hearing the critics if anybody. Hope Paul has Vada testing involved. Thats for anybody with an opponent named Fury
Truth be told Jake can’t box! I could’ve showed y’all this but Jake was ducking the fan fight due to embarrassment I guess, goodnight Jake sleep tight . Better get the smelling salts ready
I would actually like to see Fury take his head off. It would be good for the sport.
It’s far better for the sport if Jake Paul wins…
I think Paul may win this one.
Ranking? Now that’s funny. Not a Jake Paul fan at all but…… I did like it when he said double or nothing to fury. And made fury look like a bumbling idiot.
No matter the outcome, I find Paul to be a farcical stain on the sport of boxing.
Best of luck to Badou!
Stick to YouTube Jake. Even if you do win, I still won’t buy any of your fights. This fight has garbage written all over it.
if Fury has been doing roadwork, he wins easy peasy…if he gets tired ruh roh Rorge..
How does he win ? He’s never boxed a boxer. Your thinking is a disgrace to the science. Paul stands little to no chance
I’m giving this fight a chance, i keep on reading how Paul really puts the work in to get better. lets see.
so a World title fight is an undercard fight to a youtuber? no wonder everybody would rather watch MMA
Boxing Historian
Paul draws money, but unfortunately, the guys in the co-feature draw flies..
Rumor has it Scooby Doo is Jake’s cut man
I thought it was Shaggy
Was there any clown music? Lol
Tommy Fury has no business being in this fight. This is a mismatch, He is not at the same level as Jake Paul.
Tommy Fury & Marsellos Wilder are in the same weight class. Let them fight each other. After Fury gets KTFO, that should be his only option. Squeeze a few pennies out of that.
That bitch Jake Paul is clueless he’s definitely going to lose he might get kod his only chance I’s a terrible draw like Lewis Holyfield 1
Fury can win this one
No question here