Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury: B/R Staff Fight Predictions

Every Jake Paul boxing match is an event, and Sunday's matchup in Saudi Arabia will be no different.

"The Problem Child" puts his unblemished boxing record on the line against Tommy Fury, the brother of WBC World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury. The younger Fury might be better known for his stint on the British reality show Love Island, but the 23-year-old has an impressive 8-0 record and is undoubtedly the best opponent Paul has ever faced in a boxing ring.

The fight is scheduled to be an eight-round bout at a catchweight of 185 pounds.

The B/R combat sports team got together for this unique occasion and provided predictions for the fight.

So, who do you think will win? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section of the app.

Paul Wins Inside the Distance

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 29: Jake Paul (R) punches Anderson Silva of Brazil during their cruiserweight bout at Desert Diamond Arena on October 29, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Had Jake Paul not beaten Anderson Silva in his last fight, I would probably pick Tommy Fury to touch him up over eight rounds. But after watching the YouTuber beat the UFC legend by decision, I've got to give him credit where it's due.

Let me start by clarifying the obvious: I know Silva is not a world-class boxer and that he's almost 50. But as anybody who watched the Brazilian in his prime knows, he would have been a great boxer had he chosen The Sweet Science over MMA, and as he's proved in his recent wins in the boxing ring, he is plenty capable of beating low-level opponents. I don't think any of that can be said about the other people Paul has beaten. Tyron Woodley might be able to eke out a few wins against real rookies, but I wouldn't pick Ben Askren or Nate Robinson against anything tougher than a heavy bag.

Paul's win over Silva was as good or better than anything we've seen from Fury, who has, let's be honest, spent the bulk of his career fighting butchers, bakers and candlestick makers on home turf in England. The win over Silva also reaffirmed that Paul has the cardio to go the distance and that he carries his power into the later rounds. That will likely matter against Fury, who I'm guessing will try to make this a drawn-out and technical fight.

The Brit might take the lead early, but Paul's win over Silva showed me everything I needed to believe he's good enough to find his target at some point in this one.

Prediction: Jake Paul by knockout, Rd. 8

- Tom Taylor

Expect a Jake Paul KO

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 30: Jake Paul celebrates after defeating AnEsonGib in a first round knockout during their fight at Meridian at Island Gardens on January 30, 2020 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The showdown between YouTuber Jake Paul and boxing family royalty in Tommy Fury promises to be a captivating event even for boxing purists, considering that the winner is guaranteed a spot in the world cruiserweight rankings.

At first glance, betting on Paul would seem like a risky gamble, but when you look at his combat history, it may in fact be a solid wager. While Paul's resume includes athletes past their prime (a retired NBA player and former MMA world champion), it's still more impressive than Tommy's previous opponents. Fury's debut was against a boxer with 102 losses, and his eight opponents have a combined record of 24-176-5.

In addition to his advantage in the quality of opponents, Paul is more experienced in eight-round bouts, compared to Fury, who is engaging in his first eight-rounder. With contests against high-profile names such as Anderson Silva, Paul is not new to fighting on the grandest stage.

Fury's lack of experience on boxing's biggest stage will be to his detriment. As far as pressure, an argument can be made that there's more on Fury because of his last name and boxing pedigree. Even his older brother, Tyson 'The Gypsy King' Fury, has declared that Tommy should retire from the sport if he does not win. This is a matchup between two fighters with something to prove, but Paul shouldn't be underestimated because of his proven knockout power.

Prediction: Jake Paul, Sixth-Round KO

- Douglas A. Brown

Believe the Hype: Jake Paul Is a Real Boxer and Will Prove It vs. Tommy Fury

Believe me, I'd love to play the contrarian role here.

I'd love to suggest that the eminently dislikable Paul had, in graduating from washed-up cage fighters to actual boxers, finally bitten off more than he can chew.

But alas, he has not.

It can be argued that Tyson Fury's more camera friendly brother is something akin to an actual boxer thanks to eight trips to the ring. Problem is, those eight opponents, as pointed out by my learned colleagues, were hardly grist for a truly worthwhile mill.

Fury is where he is thanks far more to reality TV and familial connection than for anything he's shown while vanquishing a level of competition most kindly defined as laughable. This weekend's fight, then, represents the ultimate wannabe prize for him, a high-profile cashout before he gets back to a slightly less lucrative life as a perpetual member of the British B-list.

As for Paul, though an aging Silva and an 0-since-2018 Woodley (twice) aren't exactly boxing's version of Murderers' Row, they at least represent guys who at one point in their competitive lives were able to successfully handle themselves in a combat space.

The guy is a stone-cold genius when it comes to knowing his audience and feeding it what it'll voraciously consume—a steady diet of recognizable but almost entirely non-threatening foils—while eagerly footing the bill at $50 or more a pop.

Low risk, high reward. See you again in six months.

Prediction: Paul by KO, Round 5

— Lyle Fitzsimmons