Tommy Fury has claimed YouTube boxing is great for the sport ahead of his fight with Jake Paul.
Fury will finally settle his rivalry with YouTube star Paul on February 26 in Saudi Arabia at the third time of asking. The pair were set to meet on two previous occasions but Fury was first forced to withdraw with a broken rib, before the Briton was banned from travelling to the US for their second scheduled clash.
Despite the pair being bitter rivals, Fury has previously suggested their rivalry is purely for financial reasons as he is set to receive a large payday for their showdown. And in a new hint of respect for influencer boxing, Fury suggested it is important to bring new eyes to the traditional ranks.
"In my opinion it brings new eyes to boxing," Fury told Piers Morgan when assessing the impact of Paul's career on the traditional version of the sport. "That's the only positive thing I can say about it really. Other than that it is what it is they are just playing at it, they are not professional boxers.
"They are doing it to entertain the crowd and earn a few quid and that is it really. But when you put one of them in with a professional boxer well you are about to find out what is about to happen. But I don't know, it is bringing new eyes to the sport, kids are getting involved that don't normally watch it so yeah it is great really."
Paul has inspired a new wave of influencers to descend on the sport, including the likes of his brother Logan and YouTube rival KSI. Many people have argued that the rise of YouTube boxing is a detriment to the traditional ranks, but it is also arguably attracting a new audience to sport.
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The 'Problem Child' will face his hardest test against Fury where he is looking to prove that YouTubers can mix it with professionals if he picks up a win. And he has even insisted that he is so convinced of winning, he is planning to land an exact left hook to close the show.
"Me and Tommy will be around three rounds max," Paul assured IFL TV. "He's just not going to be prepared for the moment or what I'm bringing to the table. I'm trying to knock him out with a hook actually, I want him to be the first person I knock out with my left hand so we've been working on that.
"I think the first round will be chill and then I'll start to figure him out after 30-45 seconds. Tommy should get a good wealth manager, I can recommend you a few, take the money and ride off into the sunset but this is going to set your life in the direction that you should have been on before and you're going to hate this f***ing sport after February 26."
