Tommy Fury admits his feud with Jake Paul has ‘getted personal’ and the YouTube star will have to fight to prove he is a ‘legitimate boxer’.
Celebrity rivals were due to put bragging rights and unbeaten records on the line in the December 18 grudge match.
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But Fury was forced to walk out with a broken rib and a bacterial chest infection, with ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley filling in as his replacement.
This means Paul has yet to face an opponent with no prior professional boxing experience in his unbeaten 5-0 career.
And Fury warned that unless he did so, his reputation would remain in question, and called for their fight to be rescheduled.
He said on MMA Hour: “It’s got to be personal, because it’s unfinished business, like I said.
“This fight should have happened in December, and this” [didn’t], This fight must happen. There are a lot of people out there who want to see this fight.
“I believe that out of every fight Jake Paul can take in minutes, boxing wise, this is the biggest fight he can take. And I believe he knows.
“Because if I wasn’t a big name or fit to fight, you know as well as I know Jake Paul wouldn’t be mentioning me, because there’s a lot of people who call Jake Paul and there’s a lot of people who call me Jake Paul.” People who don’t get a response.
“At the end of the day, it’s a battle for Jake Paul to prove whether he is a legitimate boxer and can be a legitimate contender in this sport.”
Paul, four months after initially winning over 39-year-old Woodley on points, outplayed every opponent he faced in December.
It added KO’s over YouTuber ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
And shortly after his second win over Woodley, Paul knocked out UFC duo Nate Diaz, 36, and Jorge Masvidal, 37.
At the end of the day, it is a battle for Jake Paul to prove whether he is a legitimate boxer and can be a legitimate contender in the sport.
But Fury urged the social media influencer to swap the ring for the Octagon if he continues to challenge MMA superstars.
He said angrily: “The truth of the matter is, there is unfinished business here and this fight must take place.
“Because how can he be serious about fighting if he’s never fought a boxer before? How can he be serious about this?
“He keeps mentioning the UFC. If he wants to go and fight in the UFC, never again put on a pair of boxing gloves and go and fight in the UFC.
“Don’t call yourself a boxer if you’ve never fought one.”
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