‘The WBC have more belts than Matalan’: Fans blast the World Boxing Council for creating a special ‘Diriyah Champion’ belt to be awarded to the winner of Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia this weekend
- Jake Paul and Tommy Fury have now twice seen scheduled bouts fall through
- Fury, 23, will be the first professional boxer the 26-year-old YouTuber has faced
- Fans reacted to the announcement, with one calling the WBC ’embarrassing’
The WBC have created a special ‘Diriyah Champion’ belt which will be awarded to the winner of Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
The long-term rivals came face-to-face at Wembley Arena shortly before Anthony Yarde was stopped by Artur Beterbiev in January, but Fury opted to skip their announcement pres conference earlier in February.
Paul (6-0) is looking to maintain his unbeaten record inside the ring and comes into the bout on the back of a decision win over MMA legend Anderson Silva. Fury will be the first professional boxer he has faced, however.
And boxing fans were quick to react to the WBC’s announcement, with one saying: ‘The WBC have more belts than Matalan.’
The WBC have created a special ‘Diriyah Champion’ belt which will be awarded to the winner of Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia this weekend
The bitter rivals have twice seen scheduled bouts fall through but are now finally set to go head-to-head in Riyadh
Another tweeted: ‘The one that every young boxer dreams of growing up.’
A third joked: ‘Diarrhoea Champion,’ mocking the unfortunate name.
One person said: ‘The WBC is embarrassing.’
It comes after Dereck Chisora slammed the WBC for promising to rank Paul if he beats Fury.
‘Del Boy’ says it would be an insult to the many fighters who have grinded and worked hard for recognition during their careers – urging them to boycott the WBC if they rank Paul.
‘Do you know what, if he gets a ranking with the WBC, I personally think everybody in the WBC should come out of the rankings and be in another federation,’ he said.
‘Everyone should just drop the WBC and say, “I’m not fighting for it anymore”. That’s not fair. There’s other boxers who have been slaving themselves, making weight, fighting and because he’s boxed two fighters they give him a WBC ranking? No, it’s unfair.
‘If they do that, I urge everyone in the WBC rankings – drop the belts, who cares? Belts do not pay the bills for most fighters. As Mike Tyson says, it’s garbage. Most of it is garbage to be honest with you.’
And boxing fans were quick to react to the WBC’s announcement, with one saying: ‘The WBC have more belts than Matalan’
