The Circus That Is Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury

The Circus That Is Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury

If you think boxing is going even further from the normal to the abnormal, this weekend would be the perfect argument for that particular narrative.

Floyd Mayweather, one of the greatest fighters in boxing history, fights Aaron Chalmers, who was once a reality star on the MTV show Geordie Shore. And Jake Paul and Tommy Fury, two boxing novices with a combined Boxrec ranking of 732, will earn millions and will be watched by millions the day after Mayweather dances his way to even more millions in his latest exhibition of many things. The WBC has created a special title and belt specially for the occasion. Of course, they have. The WBC has also said whoever wins will be ranked inside the top 40 of their world rankings. Influencers in many ways. There are far better boxers acting as the warm-up acts for far less money. Boxing is sliding even more away from reality.

Paul is described as a ‘media personality’ and is facing his first proper boxer in Fury. But is Fury more reality star himself? The former Love Island star has lost plenty of credibility within the sport in recent months. Is he really serious about his craft? If he isn’t, he might wake up on Monday wishing he had been.

Losing to Paul leaves him with nowhere to go in boxing. But even with a win, the predictable tiresome and overused rematch clause Paul has inserted into the contract as his comfort blanket, should he suffer his first defeat inside a boxing ring, will mean we will get to see it all over again. Will normality ever be a thing again in boxing?

But if Fury does win and the rematch goes the same way, we will probably see Fury either retire or resign himself permanently to the more profitable and less challenging Misfits circuit. Fury will earn a tidy sum on Sunday night in Saudi Arabia and he can’t earn anywhere near that in the more regular form of boxing. I just can’t see Fury going back to fighting for a relative pittance compared to what he will earn at the weekend. In some ways, you can’t really blame him if he did exactly that.

Fury in compiling his unbeaten eight-fight start to his professional career has fought the usual journeyman, maybe even a lower standard than most, but hasn’t looked overly good beating them. Trust me, that is a worry. Fury appears to get hit way too easily, and his stamina hasn’t appeared to be where it should be. Jake Paul is almost certainly Fury’s best opponent to date. That says plenty. After those 8 fights, Boxrec rank Fury as their 355th-ranked light-heavyweight in the world, and only 33rd in Britain. Fury is only 23, but you have to question his commitment to his sport and think he should be way further along in his career. If you do think that. You would be correct in doing so.

Paul, the YouTube sensation, as his CV proudly boasts, entered boxing with much disdain in 2020. He undoubtedly brought over his Social Media die-hards, but with an obsession with fighting old MMA stars, that entry into boxing came with much ridicule, despite the many eyes he brought to the sport. That resume also includes a fellow YouTuber and a basketball star. Paul has been selective and beyond careful. If you want to be considered a legitimate professional boxer, fight actual boxers. You know, the old-fashioned way.

But there is now a suspicion that he might actually be a lot better than many people think. Or hoped he would be. Paul can certainly punch, we know that at least. But until he faces opposition who pose at least some threat, and they actually reside full-time in the Noble Art, then we won’t know for sure. Fury, despite his own limitations, will at least give us some of those answers. Just maybe all the ones we need.

The era of YouTube boxing and the Misfits will not go away as quickly as some might like. But despite being the old cynic that I am, I am not a complete hater of this new world order in boxing. I don’t watch the Misfits shows on DAZN and I have no inclination to do so. But if there is a market for it, then you can’t blame anyone for running with it and profiting from it also. If people want to watch it, then let them get on with it. In reality, it has little or nothing to do with boxing proper. There is a big difference between the two. It is more entertainment coupled with a little shine of WWE thrown in for good measure. There are obvious concerns for the safety of the fighters that compete in that world, and while most of them will train incredibly hard and work on their new toy to the best of their ability, boxing is not a sport to be played with. And that is the problem for Jake Paul. There is that gap in skills and talent that will not be bridged no matter how hard he tries. Eventually, the further the story continues, Paul will find this out. He has also now signed with PFL, and MMA is an even more dangerous world. His limitations will be exposed there. And quickly. The paying public will only stomach so much. At some point, Paul will have to put himself in peril with his choice of opposition, and Paul will likely be licking his wounds and reflecting on his career choices soon after. Is Tommy Fury the man to send Paul back to a different kind of reality? It might be less painful for Paul if he is.

Fury is the supposed boxer. He should win. But I’m not certain that he will win. A few weeks ago, I was not even certain he would turn up. Twice before, he didn’t remember in a sea of excuses. Third time lucky. If lucky really is the word. The bookies have Paul as the favourite, and there is no great conviction from the boxing fraternity that Fury will indeed prevail, and I find that a damming indictment on Fury as a professional fighter. Paul has been ever so careful with his choice of opposition so far in his career and is it telling that he has selected Fury to be next? Fury is also the fighter coming into the fight with all the pressure on his shoulders. It is a must-win fight for him. Losing destroys any credibility he has in the sport. Make no mistake, his career could be over come Monday morning.

It does seem Fury has knuckled down and taken the fight seriously. In truth, he had to. Fury really should have far too much for Paul. Both are novices, but Fury has a longer background in the sport and really should have the better fundamentals to win with some degree of comfort. But a lot of smart money has gone on Paul and plenty of knowledgeable boxing people are picking Paul. And I can also see a route to victory for him. If Fury can’t control his emotions and gambles everything on an early knockout, then he will be in serious trouble if that stoppage doesn’t materialise. I can see Paul stopping a Fury who could fade badly down the stretch, or even outpointing him if he can’t find the punches to get Fury out of there. If Fury is to win, I think it will be by way of a decision. Fury is heavy-handed but not a big puncher. I don’t see him stopping Paul.

The odds of 7-2 on a Fury points victory after 8 rounds are good odds if you fancy him to win. If he resists the urge to go out too hard, he could put a lot of the early rounds in the bank leaving Paul having to knock him out to win. Surprisingly, the draw is only 10-1. It wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if the judges fail to split them.

There is intrigue in the fight despite the circus it brings. It should be mildly entertaining at the very least. It could even be widely entertaining. It could also be an abject bore, a fight spoiled by too much holding as the respective gas tanks and skills run dry. It really could be anything. And either fighter could win. In truth, nobody knows exactly what will happen. When we have too many fights that we not only know who will win but also how they will win. The fight on Sunday gives us doubt, we can celebrate that at least.

Behind the over the top build-up, it is a fight where I think, in different ways, both are after a little respect. Paul especially would get at least some form of acceptance from the boxing hard-core if beats Fury. There is every chance that will come his way. But equally, Paul could easily be in way over his head. It really is that kind of fight. Pay your money, grab your popcorn and enjoy the show. After another awful week for the sport where the fanboys and the money men expect you to accept certain things without too much scrutiny and just move on, maybe boxing is in need of a little bit of this kind of madness. Many will argue, it deserves it. They might be right.

Photo Credit: Skill Challenge Entertainment