Barry McGuigan has picked a winner from Jake Paul and Tommy Fury as their Saudi Arabia clash comes ever closer.
The pair will square off on February 26 in Diriyah, making good on their fight agreement the third time after Fury pulled out of the two previously scheduled bouts.
For Paul, it’s a chance to answer calls to face a man who has exclusively trained boxing rather than MMA or another sport – or no sport at all. He goes into the fight the bookies favourite against Fury, who will be under the pressure of his first main event and eight-rounder.
McGuigan, a hall of fame fighter turned manager and pundit, is siding with the American. He told Pro Boxing Fans that Fury wasn’t at a level to compete with Paul as of now.
“I think Jake Paul is clever. He picks guys that he knows he can beat. He is the firm favourite in the fight. Tommy Fury’s a talented kid, but he’s too immature and too underdeveloped at this stage. I pick Paul as the winner, but it could be a decent enough fight.”
Fury recently scolded former fighters and world champions for picking against him, claiming that it was a foregone conclusion he would have his hand raised in the Middle East.
If that is the case, Paul has a rematch clause available to him, meaning the two young stars could run it back later in the year. That’s not on the American’s mind though. He believes he’ll stop Fury within three rounds of this first bout.
The fight is available to UK fans on BT Sports Box Office with the price as yet unannounced, and ESPN+ in the US for $49.99.