Jake Paul lost to Tommy Fury by split decision in their grudge match (Image: STR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
, the social media phenom-turned-boxer, has stirred further controversy by alleging rejected a massive £6.3million for a rematch, only to later remove his claim
In their initial bout last year in Saudi Arabia, Fury edged Paul in a split-decision victory, ending their acrimonious rivalry. The duo had arranged for two earlier bouts, both of which were aborted at the 11th hour due to Fury’s injury and visa hiccups; however, their third attempt went ahead as planned. Throughout the fight, Fury showcased superior boxing skills by maintaining distance effectively to land jabs and sharp retorts.
Yet ‘TNT’ encountered some hurdles in the final round, being floored by ‘The Problem Child’s’ potent left hand. Despite Paul’s first professional loss, talk of a rematch has been bubbling among fans. Rumours are circulating that might be willing to shell out a pretty penny to make the second fight happen. In a tweet he deleted thereafter, 27 year old Paul stated: “Offered Fury $8M to fight on . He turned it down and now fighting an MMA fighter… Now tell me who is running? Stupid daddy controlled kid, protected from the inevitable.”
Post the defeat, ‘The Problem Child’ bounced back to beat former heavyweight champion through a unanimous decision in Texas. “I’m sorry I didn’t knock him out,” Paul said post-bout, with his entourage nodding in agreement that he had taken the honourable route by not flooring the 58 year old icon. He also confessed to holding back his punches when he noticed Tyson flagging as the bout progressed.
“After I’d seen him tired I didn’t want to put too much hurt on him, but I wanted the fans to get a good experience,” he added. “But there was a point where my aggression and violence went away when I wasn’t getting hit. I love Mike.”
Meanwhile, Fury hasn’t stepped into the ring since his victory over YouTuber KSI in October 2023. However, he’s gearing up for a clash with Darren Till on January 18 at Manchester’s Co-Op Live. Discussing the upcoming match, Fury expressed: “It feels great to finally say that I am back! I have been out of the ring far too long.”
“I’ve been getting itchy knuckles so I am thrilled to be able to announce my return, headlining a massive event in my hometown and in front of my fans. Till had a good UFC career but he’s stepping into the boxing ring now, against a proper pro, and he will quickly realise that he is out of his depth and this is not the game for him. I plan on dealing with Till in conclusive fashion and then chasing even bigger fights in 2025.”