Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will finally settle their years-long feud in Saudi Arabia next month after two bouts were previously cancelled due to issues on the Brit's end.
The pair began a lengthy back-and-forth at the start of 2021 when Paul learned of Fury's fame from a hoax graphic showing TV ratings which Tommy's brother; world heavyweight champion Tyson, shared along with a callout towards the American. They since went on to book two fights, but they were both cancelled at late notice.
But it has now been confirmed that the pair will compete in the Middle East on Sunday, February 26 after being offered a massive payout meaning both men will make multiple millions. Fury is reportedly earning $2.5million, while Paul will likely pocket at least four-times that purse.
Paul will travel to London this weekend to face off with Fury at the Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde fight in the OVO Arena Wembley. The pair will step into the ring for their first head-to-head since signing for a fight, and their first meeting since November when Paul spent the entirety of Fury's exhibition bout in Dubai mocking his rival on commentary, leading to a ringside melee.
After two Stateside fights were called off in December 2021 and August 2022, the American decided that he would be willing to move the fight anywhere in the world to force Fury's hand. He even offered a fight date in the Brit's hometown of Manchester, which would have come with a hefty pay cut, and they eventually settled on Saudi Arabia.
"I have done everything in my power to make the fight happen against this 8-0 boxer, including offering to go to Manchester for February 18 in partnership with Frank and George Warren," Paul told Mirror Fighting earlier this month. "I'm looking at any other alternative to make this fight work."
In December of 2021, the pair were due to square off in Florida but Fury picked up a rib injury in training. The following August, they booked to fight in Madison Square Garden but a travel issue prevented the Brit from attending. When talks stalled for next month's fight, Paul teased a bout with Mike Perry, his former sparring partner and and ex-UFC fighter who is 3-0 as a bare-knuckle boxer.
Who do you think wins; Jake Paul or Tommy Fury? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Paul is expected to begin transitioning away from boxing shortly after signing with the PFL for his MMA debut, but he still has a number of major offers on the table, including a December fight with YouTube rival KSI. Once he faces Fury, he may begin training for his first bout in the cage or take one more boxing bout before taking on KSI at the end of the year.
The American has defeated three MMA world champions, knocking out both Bellator and ONE FC champion Ben Askren and ex-UFC title holders Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. He started his career facing celebrities such as YouTuber AnEsonGib and basketball star Nate Robinson, but now must face a real boxer, which he hopes to accomplish in Fury.
Fury is an 8-0 professional boxer who began competing in the paid ranks in 2018, shortly after Paul had his first and only white collar bout against YouTuber Deji. He went 2-0 before entering the Love Island villa in 2019, where he met girlfriend Molly-Mae with whom he is expecting to welcome a child in the coming weeks, and accrued his millions of followers.
