As Jake Paul and Tommy Fury’s catchweight clash comes ever closer, coach and commentator, Teddy Atlas, has picked his winner.
This is the third time a fight between the two young stars – perhaps better known for content creation and reality TV than boxing, respectively – has been negotiated.
Fury was forced to pull out in 2021 due to a broken rib and chest infection, and then again in 2022 with issues travelling to the US. This time the fight takes place in Saudi Arabia and there are no injuries to speak of – although Paul does have a back up opponent on standby.
The match-up holds intrigue as it will give fans an idea of Fury’s level in the sport, as well as a chance to see Jake Paul against a man similar in age, height and weight who has exclusively trained boxing and not another sport like MMA or basketball.
Atlas, speaking on his The Fight podcast, explained why he was siding with the American to silence his doubters.
“I’m gonna go with Jake Paul. A little tougher mentality. Definitely stronger physically. He’s gonna make it a fight. He should try to get a small ring, which I’m sure he will, and he will try to make it a fight where he can impose his physical advantage on to Fury. And get it to become the type of fight where his mental toughness can show itself.”
“I don’t care what people say – I’m gonna pick Jake Paul … I think that Paul will beat him, I think he will stop him late in the fight and press the fight with a hard jab, go to the body, be able to deal with the quickness, the sophistication of Fury early on. Fury can put punches together, can move around, but [Paul] will eventually close the gap on him.”
The fight will be available on BT Sport Box Office in the UK and ESPN+ in the US. It takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday February 26.