Tommy Fury and Jake Paul with Derek Chisora

Jake Paul v Tommy Fury: Derek Chisora disagrees with YouTuber earning a world ranking but does think he's good enough to beat Carl Froch

By Chris Hammer

Boxing

Mon February 20, 2023 · 3y ago

Derek Chisora says it'll be a disgrace to boxing if Jake Paul earns an official cruiserweight world ranking for beating Tommy Fury - but thinks the YouTuber to good enough to defeat the retired Carl Froch.

The popular heavyweight is out in Saudi Arabia to help promote Sunday night's eight-round fight between the pair in Riyadh, which will be screened on BT Sport Box Office (2200 GMT), and shared his views on a number of topics surrounding the changing landscape of boxing.

Paul has won all six of his contests but his CV is restricted to a fellow YouTuber, an ex-NBA player and three mixed martial arts fighters – including two wins over Tyron Woodley - so the younger brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson will be his first opponent from a boxing background.

Fury (8-0, 4KO) has also enjoyed an unbeaten start to his career but recently conceded that he'd have to retire from boxing at the age of 23 if he suffered the ignomy of losing to a Youtuber.

Nevertheless, Paul is the marginal bookies favourite and Chisora can see it being very close.

The 39-year-old, who lost to Tyson Fury in December, told the Daily Mirror: "Jake right now looks to be the favourite. So all the odds are favouring Jake and everything, all the fans are saying 'Jake, Jake, Jake'. But I've got a feeling that Jake might get stopped by Tommy but if that happens then 'oh wow'.

"But if it goes the other way around, then Jesus Christ it's not great. Everybody's saying 'Jake, Jake, Jake' and I think what's happening right now is that Jake's confidence is so high up that he's brushing off Tommy easy."

"There's been so much back-and-forth trash talking and it's happening now. I like Tommy Fury, I like Jake, I like everybody because they're just young guys who are trying to make a living."

Despite being a fan of the entertainment that Paul brings, Chisora disagrees with last week's announcement that he'd receive a WBC ranking in the cruiserweight division if he emerges victorious on Sunday.

He said: "I don't think he'd deserve it. It's hard enough for real boxers to earn those rankings. But then WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman decides to give double ranking because he's getting some greens in his back pocket. No, that is a disgrace to boxing. That is unfair."

Derek Chisora says it would be a "disgrace to boxing" if Jake Paul was given an official world ranking for beating Tommy Fury 🥊 #PaulFury @btsportboxing pic.twitter.com/uAgfh2yMtC
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) February 20, 2023

Chisora, however, is warming to the Youtube boxing scene, saying: "I've not embraced it, but you have to understand that times are changing, the world is changing right now and you have to evolve with it. Back in the day there was all like cowboys running around on horses, then cars came in, so things are changing and we just have to evolve with it.

"It's hard because the original boxing fans don't pay so much attention to boxing any more so [there's a] younger crowd. Me growing up, I was into Rocky, a big Rocky fan. But people don't watch Rocky any more, they watch Creed and times are moving on now so we just have to get on with it."

Del Boy also caused a stir when later claiming he'd bet £200,000 that Paul would defeat retired former unified super middleweight champion Carl Froch if their paths ever crossed.

Chisora told iFL TV: “Good luck to Jake Paul. The guy believes he can do anything, and when you’re that young age, you believe you can do anything. He’s entertainment. Those people that talk rubbish about him, they can’t do it, that’s why. There’s nothing wrong with that. Carl Froch will go in there and get his a** beaten up and go get your check, bro.

“He’ll beat Carl Froch. He’ll take the venom out of the cobra. He’ll beat Carl Froch. I’m willing to bet 200 grand that Carl Froch will get his a** dealt with. I’m 100% serious, Carl Froch will get his a** dealt with.”

Meanwhile, Ilunga Makabu will face Badou Jack for the WBC cruiserweight title on the undercard.