Jake Paul has vowed it will not take more than four rounds to knock out “unprofessional” Tommy Fury after the latter failed to turn up at the pre-fight press conference ahead of their boxing bout in Saudi Arabia later this month.
Fury, 23, was scheduled to attend the Riyadh media briefing to preview his February 26 clash with Paul, which takes place at the Diriyah Arena, Diriyah.
Both unbeaten as professional boxers, Paul and Fury have spent much of the past year taunting one another, with previous attempts to stage the fight falling apart. Fury, 8-0 (4 KO), pulled out of their bout in December 2021 citing a a bacterial infection and broken rib, while last August's fight was cancelled after visa issues prevented him from travelling to the United States.
Fury, half-brother of WBC and lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, was then supposed to be in Riyadh on Wednesday evening, although Paul claimed last week that the former reality TV star would remain in the UK as he needed more time to train for the contest billed as “The Truth”.
On Wednesday, upon Fury’s no-show at Riyadh’s Faisaliah Hotel, promoter George Warren said: "Everything we are hearing from camp is that he is looking excellent in the gym. He sends his apologies for not being here in person — he is dealing with a private and personal matter at the moment.
“Make no mistake, he will be here in due time to publicise and promote the event. We are planning to bring him in around 10 days before the event."
However, Paul responded: "I'm used to his behaviour at this point — he's unprofessional and he's a flake. He's not a serious businessman or a serious fighter and I'm going to prove that.
"It's why this fight is called 'The Truth', because the truth is going to come out. He's going to have to pay for all of the times he's pulled out. All the business people he screwed over, it's disrespectful.
"There's some of the biggest names in boxing [here], the biggest promoters and most influential people in the world, one of the greatest countries in the world, and he doesn't want to show up because of a 'private matter'. We all have private matters.
"When you sign up to do something, you make a commitment — that's what it should be about. It just shows me he's scared because he said he didn't need to train for this fight. Meanwhile, his first excuse was that he needed to train extra, but now it's a private matter. I love Tyson, but it's typical from the dad [John] and Tommy."
Paul, who rose to international fame as a social media personality, boasts a 6-0 record since entering boxing in early 2020, with four of those wins coming via knockout. Last time out, in October, he registered a final-round stoppage of former UFC champion Anderson Silva.
“I’m going to knock this kid [Fury] out in four rounds or less,” Paul, 26, said on Wednesday. “I’ve put every single opponent on the canvas — everyone I’ve fought has touched the ground. Tommy has no power, no idea what’s coming his way.
"He’s unprofessional, he’s not a real businessman, he’s not even a real fighter – and I’m going to prove it. That’s why this fight is called ‘The Truth’. On February 26, the truth will come out.”
Paul, who later mimicked a face-off with former world heavyweight title challenger Derek Chisora, said of fighting in Saudi Arabia: “I’ve always grown up watching big fights, watching boxing, but to be here in Saudi Arabia with such amazing people, for such a massive fight, is incredible. I’d like to say thank you to the kingdom, Ministry of Sport and Prince Khaled for having me here.
“The fanbase here is amazing. The opportunity to meet so many fans here in the past while with the WWE was a big reason behind me wanting to return.”
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Previous men's records
- 2:01:39: Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) on 16/9/19 in Berlin
- 2:02:57: Dennis Kimetto (KEN) on 28/09/2014 in Berlin
- 2:03:23: Wilson Kipsang (KEN) on 29/09/2013 in Berlin
- 2:03:38: Patrick Makau (KEN) on 25/09/2011 in Berlin
- 2:03:59: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 28/09/2008 in Berlin
- 2:04:26: Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) on 30/09/2007 in Berlin
- 2:04:55: Paul Tergat (KEN) on 28/09/2003 in Berlin
- 2:05:38: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 14/04/2002 in London
- 2:05:42: Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 24/10/1999 in Chicago
- 2:06:05: Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 20/09/1998 in Berlin
Ipaf in numbers
Established: 2008
Prize money: $50,000 (Dh183,650) for winners and $10,000 for those on the shortlist.
Winning novels: 13
Shortlisted novels: 66
Longlisted novels: 111
Total number of novels submitted: 1,780
Novels translated internationally: 66
if you go
The flights
Air France offer flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Cayenne, connecting in Paris from Dh7,300.
The tour
Cox & Kings (coxandkings.com) has a 14-night Hidden Guianas tour of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It includes accommodation, domestic flights, transfers, a local tour manager and guided sightseeing. Contact for price.
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Leading all-time NBA scorers
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
