British boxer, Tommy Fury has defeated fierce rival Jake Paul by split decision in Saudi Arabia on Monday morning, February 27.
Fury emerged victorious with the judges calling the fight 76-73, 76-73, 74-75 in his favour after he withstood a late knockdown – which he insisted was a mere slip – to earn a close victory against his sworn enemy in by far the biggest event of his young career to date as YouTube star Paul was beaten for the first time in his opening meeting with a professional boxer, having previously amassed a 6-0 record by defeating fellow social media celebrities and ex-MMA champions.
This fight between the British former Love Island contestant and an American who found fame through YouTube was the result of over two years of social media war.
According to the fight report, Fury, who had to rise from a knockdown in the last round, boxed better overall, landed better jabs and caught Paul with right-hand counters.
One judge scored the bout in Paul’s favour, making it 75-74, but the other two both had it for Fury, each scoring 76-73.
Fury declared afterwards: ‘For the past two-and-a-half years, this is all that’s consumed my life. Tonight I made my own legacy – I am Tommy Fury.
‘I had a dream I would win, people doubted me, but everyone can take note now.
‘I had the world on me, pressure on my shoulders and I came through. This is a world title fight to me, this is my destiny, my fate.’
Fury’s win also earns him a mammoth payday and a top-40 ranking within the WBC, though the duo are likely to go head to head again later in 2023 with Paul possessing a rematch clause that he says he intends to trigger quickly.
‘Tonight I made my own legacy, I made my own legacy,’ an emotional Fury said after a victory in which he displayed superior boxing fundamentals against a novice, with big brother and reigning WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury watching on alongside the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mike Tyson and Kevin Hart plus a number of other boxing stars.
