David Haye has delivered his prediction for Jake Paul versus Tommy Fury straight from Costa Rica.
The British boxing legend won’t make it to Saudi Arabia for fight night, but he’s been keeping a keen eye on both competitors as they ready themselves to put a long-running feud to bed.
Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) goes into the bout a bookies favourite despite never having faced a bonafide professional boxer. Fury (8-0, 4 KOs) will be dealing with his first box office main event duties as well as his first time scheduled to go eight rounds.
In a video posted to his Instagram, Haye first praised Fury’s ability.
“Jake Paul has an acid test against a real fighter – Tommy Fury. A young guy who looks the part. He’s looked fantastic in his previous fights. Long arms. Tremendous physique. Fighting family. Fighting genetics.
A lot of people believe that Tommy Fury’s gonna knock out Jake Paul, who’s considered a YouTuber who happens to do a little bit of boxing.”
He doesn’t subscribe to that thinking, though – even going as far to call Paul’s coach, former cruiserweight world title challenger BJ Flores, one of the best in the world.
“The difference is I know that he is a real boxer. BJ Flores is his coach. One of the best coaches on the planet. I’ve spent many hours talking to him about this Jake Paul project.
And this is it – this is the big one, the test where he shows the world what he’s all about.”
The two-weight world champion believes Fury is overlooking his American opponent, and predicted a Jake Paul win over the eight-round distance.
“On the other hand, Tommy Fury doesn’t consider this a real threat, a real fight. He says it’s an easy fight, he’s fought better people in the past. I disagree.
I think is Tommy Fury’s biggest fight, toughest fight, with a fighter who’s coming to win. Legitimately coming to win. He’s gonna have a game plan. I’m excited. I believe there will be an upset.
I believe Jake Paul will find a way to win, possibly on points. It’s captured the public’s imagination and that’s what we need in boxing.”
With the weigh ins now complete, all that’s left for Paul and Fury to do it lace up and step through the ropes.