Jake Paul and Tommy Fury’s highly-anticipated bout finally arrives this Sunday, 26 February and not only are fights fans and sceptics alike eager to see what happens, but some of boxing’s biggest names are getting their predictions in.
The influencer turned pro boxer and younger Fury brother have both talked a big game ahead of the fight, the build-up to which feels like it has been dragged out significantly as a result of multiple cancellations and rearrangements thanks to last-minute injuries, visa issues and so on.
However, the pair have now reached the point of no return and having had the official face-off, the boxing world is now left to decide whose going to win. Unsurprisingly, Tommy’s big brother Tyson is backing family but did finally concede that Jake can, indeed, fight.
Nevertheless, the ‘Gypsy King’ still believes “100% Tommy is going to win” and even believes it’ll be a knockout victory.
Although it’s clear there is now an acceptance among the Fury camp that the younger Paul brother can and has been fighting professionally for some time now, Tyson did caveat: “I don’t think he can beat a Fury, no”.
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He also went on to say he is “very proud” of his brother for putting on a proper main event like this, adding that “he has always believed in himself”, even when he was a little kid. As for the other Tyson present for the fight in Saudi Arabia, ‘Iron Mike’ had a different take on who he thinks is going to edge it.
As a true boxing legend and global sporting icon, many might have assumed that Mike Tyson would pretty resistant to the rising celebrity and influencer advent within the discipline, but having proved himself to be taking this thing seriously after six straight wins, he’s clearly convinced ‘Kid Dynamite’.
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The 56-year-old admitted that while he hasn’t seen Tommy Fury fight before, he said: “I don’t think he’ll be able to beat Jake Paul”. He also believes the 26-year-old is only getting “better and better as he fights”, insisting that “someone’s getting knocked out… someones 0 has got to go”.
On the other hand, while both fighters are currently undefeated in their fledgling careers — Fury boasting just two more wins than Paul — and Tyson believes that he is “the biggest name in boxing right now besides the heavyweights”, the likes of Derek Chisora can’t seem to decide what the fight means.
Despite initially telling IFL TV that he believes Paul will “get knocked out… along as he’s getting paid” (a suspicion many have levelled given all of the hype thus far), Chisora has most recently named the American as the favourite but still feels all the posturing might be his downfall.
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Speaking to the Mirror, he said: “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’.”
Moreover, it seems he is more concerned with what a victory for Paul would mean for boxing at large after the WBC said he would gain a ranking if he beats Fury. Chisora noted that “it’s hard enough for real athletes, real boxers to gain those rankings” and the rules shouldn’t be bent for the sake of money.
These are just a few of the boxers who have given their Paul vs Fury predictions and, aside from the result, it seems so many both within the industry and beyond can’t decide whether it’s good for the sport or not.
What do you think and who do you think is going to take the W on Sunday?
You can watch the highlights from the final pre-match press conference and a rather fiery face-off down below:
Featured Image — BT Sport/Boxing Social (via Twitter)/Jake Paul (via IG)
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Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
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Manchester MMA star Tom Aspinall slams ‘unfair’ start times for UFC 304 at Co-op Live
Danny Jones
Local MMA star Tom Aspinall has come out to criticise the start times for UFC 304 here in Manchester, calling it ‘unfair’ for fans here in the UK.
In case you missed that rather big announcement, the UFC is returning to Manchester after nearly a decade and will be the very first sporting event held at the brand-new Co-op Live Arena, which is finally set to open this week following multiple delays (touch wood).
However, in an effort to keep broadcasters and the UFC‘s massive audience back in the US, the fight card will be starting until around 3am – and that’s at the very earliest.
Responding to the decision the Atherton-born and Salford-based fighter posted a video on his socials saying, “As a fan who wants to watch it live, I think it is absolutely terrible”.
He goes on to say that “it’s just not fair on the fans – the UK fans obviously. It’s predominantly an American audience so I understand that, they want to sell to them, but why can’t they sell to them in the afternoon which is our evening time?
While he admitted it “doesn’t make that much difference” to him as a fighter, the 31-year-old went on to ask, “Why can’t the American watch it in the afternoon and Manchester, the UK and European fans can all fly to the event and sell out this new arena?”
“I mean, it’s going to sell out regardless, mate”, Aspinall reiterated, adding that “we’re very lucky to have a pay-per-view event in Manchester” but that forcing the British audience and Mancs to watch something just down the road at a US-convenient time just doesn’t seem right.
There’s been plenty of backlash amongst MMA fans online too, with many stating that it simply goes to show that the UFC as an organisation “don’t care” about overseas supporters as much as they claim to.
As the current interim heavyweight champion, Aspinall will be right up at the top of the billing for UFC 304, which is the first time the event has been in the UK full stop since 2016.
We can only hope for similarly victorious scenes for the North West this July.
As for the shiny new venue, Co-op Live, after a fair few teething problems it looks like they are now on course to open just a week or so after the initial launch date. Not so bad.