The Problem Child who became a business man is on the hunt for yet another new title.
‘I’ve come up with a bunch of different nicknames,’ Jake Paul says. But none that quite captures his new chapter.
For the past three years, this YouTube star has revelled in upending boxing’s apple cart. Now, though, Paul claims to have a higher cause. For himself. For boxing and for MMA.
Jake Paul talked to Sportsmail about the goals he wants to achieve within the sport of boxing
He wants world titles. He wants to inspire kids, to introduce better healthcare and higher purses for fighters, to improve how the sport is run and promoted. First on his to-do list, however, is some philanthropy.
‘Fighting Tommy Fury is charity work,’ Paul jokes hours before the pair came face-to-face in London to confirm their February 26 bout in Saudi Arabia.
‘I don’t hate the kid, I don’t think he’s a bad person, I think he’s just caught up in the wrong lifestyle and doesn’t really know who he is. He’s like a lost puppy trying to figure his life out.’
And here’s where Paul believes he can help.
‘I’m here to reset his life path,’ he says. Paul believes that, though Fury, 23, seems like an ‘an arrogant, egotistical p****’, his opponent is at his core a ‘puppet’ born into a fighting family and forced into a sport that isn’t for him.
The 26-year-old’s bout against Tommy Fury was confirmed for February 26 in Saudi Arabia
The duo were separated after clashing at the end of Anthony Yarde’s defeat by Artur Beterbiev
‘That’s what I think is happening,’ he explains. ‘I think he thinks he loves this sport and all the glory. It’s been fun beating these taxi drivers but he’s going to hate this sport after February 26.’
Right or wrong, at least some answers might soon arrive. And not before time. This strange, rather absurd rivalry to sum up this strange, rather absurd blend of boxing and social media, has been simmering for a while. Paul and Fury stared each other down in the ring before Anthony Yarde’s defeat by Artur Beterbiev on Saturday night.
They were due to meet in New York last August, only for Fury to be denied access to the United States. Back in December 2021, meanwhile, Fury had to withdraw through injury. Some wondered if their paths would ever cross.
Many more wondered why they ever would. Paul, alongside his brother Logan, made his name online before deciding to give boxing a bash.
The heated rivalry between Paul and Fury will finally come to a head at the end of the month
Between Instagram and YouTube alone, this 26-year-old boasts more than 42million followers. Hence the glistening bracelets climbing up one wrist and the white watch – said to be worth $500,000 – ticking on the other.
Since this day in 2020, he has won six professional boxing fights against opponents from MMA, YouTube and NBA. He has his own promotional company, too, and worked with Eddie Hearn on Katie Taylor’s epic against Amanda Serrano.
Fury, meanwhile, is a light-heavyweight whose purses and profile dwarf most 8-0 professionals. In part because he won hearts on Love Island back in 2019. Oh, and because he is the half-brother of WBC heavyweight king, Tyson Fury.
That lineage has its perks – Fury has grown up surrounded by boxing. It brings expectation too, though.
Paul recently defeated UFC icon Anderson Silva in a boxing match to remain unbeaten as a pro
Particularly when Tommy has been told by Tyson and their father, John Fury, that he will have to retire and change his name, or stay in Saudi Arabia, if he loses this fight.
‘He has a lot of weight riding on his shoulders,’ Paul says. ‘I can’t even imagine if my dad or brother said some s*** like that. But I guess he’s always kind of been the runt.’
Incredibly, some bookmakers make Fury the underdog. Some within boxing fancy Paul, too.
‘It doesn’t surprise me because I think the real people in the sport, who see through all the fluff, understand what’s going to happen,’ Paul says. ‘But it is funny because he’s been boxing since he was 12 and I’ve been a pro for two years, 364 days.’
This would be Paul’s first victory over a recognised boxer. If it happens, that is. The American remains so sceptical that Fury will show up in Riyadh, they have MMA fighter Mike Perry on standby.
Between Instagram and YouTube alone, this 26-year-old boasts more than 42million followers
Paul wears a white watch – said to be worth $500,000 – to his interview with Sportsmail
‘Everyone on my team was like: “no, let’s not do this”,’ he claims. ‘And I was like: “I have to do this, I have to knock him out.” Even though talks dragged on.
‘He just kept on wanting more and more and more money,’ Paul, whose fight against Fury will be shown on BT Sport Box Office, claims.
‘It was a lot of greed, which is tough because he’s never been paid anywhere near this amount. So we’re really taking a leap of faith on him.’
He adds: ‘People in boxing – and it’s a real problem – they just make all of this s*** so complicated when it doesn’t need to be. It is date, weight, ring size, that’s about it. That’s all you really need. So everything else is just stalling or negotiation tactics or pricing yourself out if they’re scared.’
Fury and his partner Molly-Mae Hague are expecting their first baby, which adds another layer of complication to all this.
‘It’s a bit bizarre. Two of his biggest life moments in a very short time period here. I was telling my friends: I don’t know how he’s mentally going to be able to deal with that,’ Paul says.
‘If I had a kid, I wouldn’t want to be showing up at the gym, so I think it’s going to be a distraction for him.’ But Paul is juggling commitments, too.
The American wants to inspire kids, win titles and to introduce the sport to better healthcare
‘My main thing is getting the fighters paid more… getting them long-term health care,’ he claims. ‘For so long you’ve just seen all these fighters get taken advantage of and I want to be that change – unionise all the fighters so we can all benefit and grow.’
Speaking in London, the American resists ample opportunity to really lay into Fury. Or UFC boss Dana White, with whom he has shared a long-running feud. His ‘ruthless’ trash talk has been tempered.
‘I don’t feel the need to go to those places. But if it goes there, it’ll go there,’ he says.
‘Before my words were bigger than my actions and now my actions are bigger than my words and I like that balance better.’
Alas, both words and actions matter when fights like these end up in Saudi Arabia.
This match-up might not offer the same titles or prestige as others that have landed in the desert involving the likes of Anthony Joshua.
But the profile of Fury and Paul means the same questions about Saudi, sportswashing and morality must be asked. Especially of an American.
‘I don’t judge their country,’ Paul says. ‘I don’t really know what’s going on there and I’ve always just judged based on people I meet there and my experience there and it’s all been more than positive, more than friendly.’
That won’t satisfy all of his critics. Nor will everyone buy the noble intentions supposedly underpinning this dalliance with boxing.
‘Showing kids anything is possible, putting on good fights and knocking people out,’ Paul says. ‘That will be my legacy.’
He adds: ‘You find all your first fulfilment in all the fame, glory and money. That’s cool for a little bit but I’ve already done that.’
Now, though? ‘I found more fulfilment out of helping other people.’
So, time for some philanthropy.
BT Sport Box Office will show Tommy Fury v Jake Paul exclusively live on Saturday 26th February. Learn more at bt.com/sportboxoffice.
