The much-anticipated clash between the US YouTuber and the British reality star will finally come after it was postponed twice.
On February 27, 2023, Jake Paul and Tommy Fury will finally meet at the Diriyah Arena in Saudi Arabia for their much-awaited boxing clash. The two boxers will finally get in the boxing ring on this Sunday after their clash, billed as The Truth, was postponed twice.
Here is everything you need to know about one of the most hotly-waited fights of 2023.
Who are the fighters and what are their records?
Jake Paul is a well-known American internet personality, actor, and professional boxer. He first gained popularity on the now-defunct social media app Vine, and later became a prominent YouTuber with millions of subscribers.
Meanwhile, Tommy Fury is a British professional boxer and reality television personality. He is the younger brother of professional boxer Tyson Fury, who is a former heavyweight world champion. Tommy Fury first gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the British dating reality show Love Island in 2019, where he finished as a runner-up alongside his partner Molly-Mae Hague.
Jake Paul made his professional boxing debut in 2020. Since then, the brother of Logan Paul has garnered an impressive record of 6-0 as a professional with four knockout wins. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury's record is 8-0 with four knockout wins, but none of his opponents to this point have been big names in the sport, according to Skysports.
It has been confirmed that the winner will receive a top 40 ranking in the WBC's cruiserweight division.
What is the start time of The Truth?
According to ManchesterEveningNews, the fight will take place at the Diriyah Arena, a 15,000-capacity venue on the outskirts of the city of Diriyah in Saudi Arabia. Coverage will begin at 6.30 pm UK time, with the ring walk at 9.30 pm.
The fight will be shown on BT Sport Box Office for a pay-per-view price of £19.95. American fans can watch the fight on the PPV on ESPN+ PPV for $49.99, according to FoxSports.
Paul will be guaranteed $3.2m plus 65% of the pay-per-view money, with Fury set to walk away with a $2m purse and 35% of the PPV takings. There will be an additional $1m on the line for the winner as a performance bonus, writes CBSsports.
Why was the fight canceled twice?
Paul, a 26-year-old American YouTube star, and Fury, a 23-year-old British reality TV star, have a bitter rivalry and have engaged in numerous press conferences and pre-fight drama leading up to the event.
The fight between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury was originally scheduled for December 2021, but it was postponed after Fury pulled out citing a bacterial infection and a broken rib.
The fight was then rescheduled for August 2022 in the US, but again Fury pulled out, this time because of visa issues.
Bitter conflict between the boxers
The two fighters have a bitter rivalry and have engaged in numerous press conferences and pre-fight drama leading up to the event.
Previously, Paul mocked Fury's father for accepting the bet on his son's behalf, claiming that Fury's father is more confident than he is and that he needs his father to hold his hand in the ring.
He also claimed that Fury's girlfriend messaged him before dating Fury, but the screenshot he provided was proven to be fake. Additionally, Paul faced backlash for prematurely revealing the birth of Fury's daughter before the couple announced it themselves. He wrote on Friday: 'Tommy has no excuses now… Baby’s born.', before the couple revealed their daughter had been born on 23 January, posting a picture of the three of them together.
Despite this, Paul continued to insult Fury and his family, claiming that Fury's daughter was born ‘just in time to watch’ her dad being ‘knocked out.’
The scuffle at the press conference in Riyadh was not the first time the two have had to be separated. Despite their previous cancellations, the fight is expected to draw a large audience and generate significant revenue.
Read more:
⋙ Jake Paul believes this is why Tommy Fury withdrew from their fight again
⋙ Love Island's Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury expecting first child together
