Jake Paul’s manager and business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, has responded to John Fury’s demand that their side pay his son double for his winning performance in Saudi Arabia.
The wager – set our by Paul – would see Fury taking double his purse home if he won, but nothing if he lost. It helped hype a fight that, frankly, didn’t need any more intrigue.
Paul provided a contract at the pairs’ head-to-head interview, before later claiming that Fury’s side hadn’t signed and went silent on the matter.
If he had signed, it appears he would be double rich – he outboxed Paul over eight round to win a split decision.
In the aftermath, his father and trainer, John, has called for the loser to forget contracts and double the purse because of the initial handshake. He claims that their team would have taken nothing if defeated.
Paul hasn’t responded personally, but Bidarian has, branding John Fury’s request as ‘shocking.’
“Dear John congratulations on the win. I’ve grown to highly respect you off camera. However this statement is shocking given what you said to me at his Highness’ house on Friday evening and the correspondence from your / Tommy’s lawyer. Moreover our team has you on camera refusing to agree to the deal the night of the fight.
With all that said – fair play to Tommy on a [great] performance. You have raised a great young man. Hopefully he has the courage to do it again. Best, Nakisa.”
It’s believed that Paul will activate his rematch clause with Fury, meaning the Brit can, in theory, double his money – he’ll just have to have another scrap for it.
The Saudi Arabia hosted event was a marketing success, generating a huge amount of conversation in the boxing world and beyond.