EDDIE HEARN claimed Tommy Fury is earning millions to fight YouTube stars – despite being “terrible.”
Fury, 24, beat social media sensation-turned boxer Jake Paul, 26, in their Saudi Arabia grudge match in February.
And following the tight split-decision win, he was challenged by Paul’s bitter enemy KSI, 30.
Again Fury walked away with a razor thin victory on the scorecards – and, according to Hearn, another healthy payday in the process.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “Tommy is a professional boxer, but he’s terrible. He’s absolutely swam the channel.
“He’s gone from making £40,000/£50,000 per fight to making £4million/£5m to fight a YouTuber.”
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Fury – now 10-0 as a professional – shot to mainstream fame after meeting now fiancee Molly-Mae Hague on Love Island.
It has seen him break into the new wave of celebrity influencers fighting which brings in millions of viewers and pounds.
And Hearn defended the crossover clashes amid ridicule from boxing purists – having called Fury “terrible” just days after his KSI victory.
He said: “The ones that understand the bigger picture and the marketing side of sport get it.
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“But, a lot of them are very unhappy about it. They feel like it’s very unfair.
“They’re saying ‘I’ve worked my entire life, I’ve been boxing since I was six’. But, as far as I am concerned, I don’t care. Tough s*** really.
“It doesn’t work like that. This guy has built his profile, his business and his following to a point where he has earnt to right to do whatever he wants.
“I don’t agree with the whole, it’s not fair, it’s taking opportunities away from boxers. I like to say, put it over there.
“It’s an entertainment format and we are keeping the sport great over here.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
