JAKE PAUL has claimed Tommy Fury was NOT the toughest opponent of his career and opened up about what cost him their fight.
The YouTuber-turned boxer fell to his first ever defeat after losing a split-decision in Saudi Arabia.
But Paul has insisted UFC legend Anderson Silva was tougher than Fury, who he admitted was a good combination puncher.
On his brother Logan’s podcast, he said: “That is what is p***ing me off the most, that it had nothing to do with him it had everything to do with me.
“He wasn’t that great, at all, I think Anderson was tougher than him, and I figured out that puzzle. He threw a lot of punches, that’s his biggest thing.”
Paul, 26, defeated Silva, 47, in October in his last fight before the celebrity grudge match.
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But Fury, 23, was the first recognised boxer the YouTuber-turned prizefighter had faced in his seven-bout career.
Now the pair look set to rematch in the summer as Paul heaped praise on his British rival.
Paul said: “He’s definitely blossomed. He’s an overnight superstar and it’s great for him.
“He’s a good kid and we had a bunch of respect for each other; we spoke in the locker room and he said let’s do the rematch.
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“He seems very level-headed and down to earth. We talked a lot of s*** and did a great job promoting it but there was mutual respect there and we hugged.
“I have respect for the guy, that’s the most beautiful thing about this sport.
“You can be arch-enemies and then find respect for each other after beating the s*** out of each other and going to war.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
