This is what real boxers think about the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight in Saudi Arabia

Dom Farrell

This is what real boxers think about the Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight in Saudi Arabia image

Tyson Fury once again repeated the claim that other boxers are jealous of his brother Tommy as he prepares for Sunday’s money-spinning jamboree against YouTube star Jake Paul in Saudi Arabia.

Certain fighters and pundits picking Paul (6-0, 4KOs) to beat Tommy Fury (8-0, 4KOs) has riled the WBC heavyweight champion, even though his younger sibling’s unremarkable performances in the ring to date do much to explain the eight-round cruiserweight match-up being viewed as a “pick ‘em” contest.

“Tommy will knock him out, 100%, there’s not one doubt in my mind,” the Gypsy King told Seconds Out. “I see all these so-called top boxers picking Jake Paul to win, I’m not sure if it’s jealousy because they don’t make money and Tommy’s making millions in his ninth fight or if they’re really deluded that much.”

Even if we discount Fury’s suggestions of envy over each fighter in Sunday’s eight-rounder being ready to pocket seven-figure paydays (winner-takes-all bets aside, of course), it would be understandable if the platform granted to two novices with huge social media followings grated with far more accomplished boxers who are well-versed in the hard yards of a brutal trade.

MORE: Is Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury good or bad for boxing?

However, when the Sporting News visited one of the most respected gyms in the UK this week, such sentiments were nowhere to be found.

“If I’m totally honest, I couldn’t care less. But I appreciate what they’re doing,” said Jordan Gill, the former Commonwealth and European featherweight champion, who works under trainer David Coldwell at his Rotherham base in South Yorkshire. 

“I haven’t seen much of Tommy Fury or Jake Paul. From what everyone tells me, it’s a pretty well-matched fight. May the best man win. It’s just another fight, isn’t it?

“They’ve both got big profiles and they’re both going to make a tonne of money. So fair play to them.”

Jordan Gill knocks out Karim Guerfi
Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

But surely Gill is precisely the sort of fighter who should be irritated by this charade of big-time boxing? The 28-year-old has won 27 of his 30 professional contests, operating at a far higher level than the one that will be witnessed in Diriyah and by a worldwide pay-per-view audience.

In 2022, Gill was involved in two blood and guts thrillers. He overcame a knockdown, perforated eardrum and a knee injury to lay out Karim Guerfi to lift the European title. In his next contest, he was bloodied and stopped by veteran warrior and two-time world champion Kiko Martinez.

Boxing does not get much grittier than those twin storms Gill had to navigate, with the Paul v Fury show looking manicured and well-mannered by comparison. But far from their hefty cheques alienating this corner of the boxing community, the response is one of approval and respect.

MORE: Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight date, start time, tickets, card, PPV price & odds for 2023 boxing fight

“The thing about boxing is everyone’s come from nothing. You want to do well yourself but I’m not a jealous person,” Gill said. “I just think that if they can go out and make that money, then I’m all for them. 

“They’ve got families to look after. They probably don’t need the money but they’re going to make it anyway!

“Fair play to them, I’ll never begrudge anyone for making a pound note. To be able to make money by having a laugh and doing what you love, why not?”

Coldwell worked in the corners of David Haye and George Groves during their time under Adam Booth and has since overseen world title runs from Tony Bellew and Jamie McDonnell.

Yet there’s none of the twisting bitterness Fury might expect when this weekend’s fight is brought up. Coldwell immediate response to the topic is a smile and a chuckle.
 
“Jake Paul I respect and I rate his work ethic and his attitude," he said. "He’s a celebrity, he’s worth millions and whatever he chooses to do he will make money out of it. But he chose boxing and he’s thrown himself at boxing,

“I think Tommy Fury wins the fight. I haven’t got a problem with the fight because they’re both at the same sort of level. My problem is when Jake Paul’s fighting basketballers, MMA guys, American footballers and whatever and then calling out Canelo [Saul Alvarez] and people like that. I’m thinking, mate…"

Coldwell added: “If you’re a fighter and you’ve got a problem with the fact that [Paul] is main event, top of the bill and people are tuning in to watch him, paying whatever they’re going to pay to watch him, you need to build your profile so people are interested in watching you. That’s the only difference.”

One young man at the start of that building process is the lavishly gifted southpaw Hopey Price, who has amassed a 9-0 record under Coldwell’s guidance and this week signed a new multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom.

At 22 and not as long in the tooth as Gill or his coach, surely Leeds super-bantamweight Price has something spikey to say about Paul vs. Fury?

Well, not really. 

“Let’s be honest, people can sit on their sofas or even people like myself can sit and say ‘well, I’m doing it the traditional way and they’ve got the opportunity,’ [but] I’m sure if I was in their shoes, would I really be bothered?” Price said.

“They’re probably getting paid millions to fight each other. I just think fair play to them, really. They’re never going to be world champions, [Fury is] probably not good enough to win a British title, so why wouldn’t you? Why wouldn’t you fight each other and get paid a load of money?

“To be fair, I don’t really blame them and we can all sit and slag it off but I think most of us will sit and watch it. Even if you don’t watch it live, you’ll go back and have a little look.”

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably going to have a little look too. And don’t worry, your favorite real boxer almost certainly doesn’t mind.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.