Heavyweight boxer and reality TV star Tommy Fury has had enough of the influencers invading the squared circle. Fury appeared in a recent episode of The MMA Hour to declare war on the likes of KSI and Jake Paul, two social media personalities who are currently generating headlines with their foray into boxing. Fury, younger brother to recently retired lineal heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, declared that no influencer is a legitimate boxer until they face him.
“I don’t need to call out Jake Paul for this fight. I think you put a poll out there, who wants to see me and Jake Paul, it’s 100 percent yes. Everyone wants to see this fight because if Jake Paul and KSI didn’t have to fight me, they wouldn’t. They have to fight me to prove that they are a legitimate boxer. They have to. There is nobody else with my following and my exposure with eight fights in. There’s nobody.
Tommy Fury: Jake Paul, KSI Have to “Fight Me to Prove They Are Legitimate”
So if they want to be regarded as a boxer, they have to go through me. This fight between me and Jake does not need selling and I’m definitely going to take care of business next year, whether that’s in America or the U.K.”
Fury was booked to face Paul earlier this year, but legal issues surrounding his family’s alleged connection to the Kinahan cartel prevented him from entering the United States.
Fury did claim that, given the chance, he’d happily knock both KSI and Jake Paul out in the same evening. “Both in the same night, preferably.
I haven’t really spoke on the Jake Paul situation much over these recent months, but when you see me get in the ring with one of these guys — I don’t know who is gonna be first, KSI or Jake Paul — you will see the definition of an easy night. You will see why I’ve been saying what I’ve been saying.
These guys can’t fight. It’s like me dragging someone off a white-collar event, someone who’s just started amateur boxing, and asking them to come to the gym and spar.
There’s levels to this game and people have to understand that. I know I’m not at any sort of level myself in my career, I’m only eight fights in, number nine coming up, but I tell you what, I’ve been around it my entire life.
Had amateur fights, won titles as an amateur, and honestly, it plays a big part and you will see that with whoever I get in the ring with first.”
Is Tommy Fury right about influencer-boxers? Let us know in the comments.
