JAKE PAUL was strangely forced into a face-off with heavyweight Derek Chisora after Tommy Fury failed to attend their press conference.
Paul, 26, and Fury, 24, will meet in Saudi Arabia on February 26 in a highly-anticipated grudge match.
But the brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson did not show up to the pre-fight media event in Riyadh due to both training responsibilities and “private matters”.
And it meant Chisora, 39, stepped in for Fury, with the British fighter involved in the fight as a representative for Prince Khalid’s Skill Challenge Entertainment – a major force behind Saudi’s investment in sport.
Paul was furious at Fury’s no-show as he vented his anger on stage.
He said: “I’m used to his behaviour at this point, he’s unprofessional and he’s a flake.
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“He’s not a serious businessman or a serious fighter and I’m going to prove that. It’s why this fight is called, ‘The Truth’, because the truth is going to come out. He’s going to have to pay for all of the times he’s pulled out.
“All the business people he screwed over, it’s disrespectful. There’s some of the biggest names in boxing, the biggest promoters and most influential people in the world.
“One of the greatest countries in the world and he doesn’t want to show up because of a ‘private matter’. We all have private matters.
“When you sign up to do something, you make a commitment, that’s what it should be about.
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“It just shows me he’s scared because he said he didn’t need to train for this fight. Meanwhile, his first excuse was that he needed to train extra, but now it’s a private matter.
“I love Tyson but it’s typical from the dad [John] and Tommy.”
Fury has pulled out of the fight twice in the past, with injury and illness plaguing him in 2021, before visa issues called off the clash last year.
And his failure to go to the press conference has led many to question whether he will withdraw for a third time.
But Fury, who welcomed the birth of his first child last month, recently insisted he will be ready for their bout in Saudi at the end of the month.
Speaking to TMZ, he said: “I say to those people they need to wake up. Don’t worry. I’ll be in Saudi Arabia ready for February 26th.
“I’m ready to go now. I can’t wait to get on this plane and get over there.
“I’m going to hurt this man seriously come February 26th and if he is banking on me for not showing, well if that’s where he is getting his confidence from, then he needs to think again cause I’ll be there and I’ll be right in his face come fight night.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
