TYSON FURY admitted Jake Paul is a “decent boxer” and warned brother Tommy to take their fight “really seriously”.
Paul and Tommy have confirmed the latest rescheduling of their grudge match, on February 26 in Saudi Arabia.
The celebrity boxing rivals officially came face-to-face for the first time over the weekend at Wembley Arena.
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson, 34, was in attendance and heaped praise on YouTuber-turned 6-0 boxer Paul, 26.
He told Sky Sports: “I think he’s a decent boxer.
“A lot of people think he’s just a YouTube person who doesn’t know how to box but I’ve actually seen him training and I’ve actually seen his fights and I think he’s decent.
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“He’s like a novice professional. He’s only had six fights so he’s exactly as good as he should be at this stage.
“He’s not an Olympic boxer but then again neither am I.”
Paul has knocked out ex-MMA champions in Ben Askren, 38, Tyron Woodley, 40, and Anderson Silva, 47, in the past two years.
Now Tommy, 23, will be his first opponent with a recognised professional boxing record.
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But the 8-0 boxer has been urged by his older brother not to rest on his laurels by staying focused on the task in hand.
Tyson said: “He can’t just go to the ice cream parlour and not train.
“He’s got to really focus and have the right sparring and everything. He’s got to take it really seriously.
“He’s got to do the job when he’s in there because it’s not just the opponent.”
Tommy twice pulled out of facing Paul in the past, due to a rib injury in December 2021 and amid a US visa issue last August.
But he gets a third crack after the two renegotiated for a blockbuster in the Middle East.
Tyson has warned Tommy he can stay in Saudi if he loses and give up their famous fighting name.
So with bragging rights, unbeaten records and reputations on the line, it is all to play for in Riyadh.
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Tyson said: “There’s big pressure, a big stadium, top of the bill and all that sort of stuff.
“The thrills and spills of big-time boxing sometimes get to them so it’s going to be interesting to see if Tommy can handle that pressure, which I know he can, but it’s going to be interesting to see him do it in front of the world.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
