Tommy Fury warns social media star Jake Paul that his 20m followers will not help him in the ring

Tommy Fury insists he will not let the birth of his first child distract from his preparations for next month’s clash with rival Jake Paul.

‘If I don’t put the work in, I am liable to get embarrassed and knocked out,’ the 23-year-old admitted ahead of his meeting with the YouTuber in Saudi Arabia.

Fury was speaking on Saturday, a couple of days before it was announced his partner, Molly-May Hague, had given birth to a baby daughter.

 Molly-Mae Hague welcomed a baby girl with her boyfriend Tommy Fury on January 23

Back in 2021, Tommy’s half-brother, Tyson Fury, had to leave his own wife Paris and their newborn daughter Athena, who had suffered serious health complications, ahead of his third fight against Deontay Wilder.

‘I don’t mix my private life with my work. This is strictly business for me,’ Tommy said ‘Tyson is there for any questions that I have, we all know boxing is a tough and very lonely game

He added: ‘You cannot help what goes on outside the ring, you have to be a fighter and put everything aside and crack on.

‘This isn’t football we’re playing, there is no substitute to send on if I need to come off. If I don’t put the work in, I am liable to get embarrassed and knocked out.

‘I have tunnel vision for this fight now.’

The heated rivalry between Jake Paul and Fury will finally come to a head next month

Fury and Paul will finally settle their simmering – and strange – rivalry over eight rounds at an 185lb catchweight in Riyadh.

Tommy insists this crossover fight is only a lucrative stepping stone towards titles in the professional game.

Fury believes influencer deserve every success, and all the money they can earn, for having the ‘stones’ to step between the ropes.

But the 23-year-old has warned rival Paul: no amount of social media followers can help when they meet on February 26.

‘I have no bad blood toward influencer boxers. They all have the stones to get in that ring and have a go in front of a big crowd,’ Fury said. ‘A lot of people that hide behind keyboards say a lot of stuff and then cannot back it up. 

The 26-year-old’s bout against Tommy Fury was confirmed for February 26 in Saudi Arabia

‘These guys are putting the training in, going out in front of big crowds and throwing down. Big respect to them, I hope they all earn millions of pounds and get the life they’ve always dreamed of. I want success for everybody. There’s no jealousy or bad blood in my body.’

Incredibly, though Paul only began professional boxing three years ago, the Youtuber is the favourite with some bookmakers.

He has won all six of his fights – against opponents from MMA, YouTube and NBA – with Fury the first boxer in the opposite corner.

‘The fact he has 20million people following him, backing him to win, has made this a 50-50 fight,’ Fury – who is 8-0 as a professional – said.

‘But 20m followers is not going to make him fight any better.

‘Because Jake is a social media star he can apparently fight now. But I am going to show everyone that he can’t.

The duo were separated after clashing at the end of Anthony Yarde’s defeat by Artur Beterbiev

Fury added: ‘My next fight is Jake Paul, a social media star, but I am not a YouTube boxer.

‘I am a real professional fighting man. I turned professional very early and have been doing this for a while. I am taking part in this fight and there might be one other people I might fight and then I am back on the road for titles, whether that is English, British, World, hopefully. They are the goals I have in mind.’

This fight, live on BT Sport Box Office, represents arguably the perfect picture of modern boxing’s culture clash.

Paul made his name on social media before taking up boxing. Fury was born into a fighting family before turning up Love Island.

The 23-year-old could make money, more quickly by straddling both worlds.

‘I am in my own position and I thank God for it. I am able to work on both ends of the spectrum,’ he said.

‘I am a sportsman and a professional athlete and I am also a reality TV and social media star. I have it all wrapped into one. But money is not my God, I have earned a lot and am thankful.‘But I want to achieve my dream of one day becoming a world champion and I know I have to fight real people for that.

Paul recently defeated UFC icon Anderson Silva in a boxing match to remain unbeaten as a pro

’He added: ‘This is just business for me. He is just another man in the opposite corner who I have to go through, like a hot knife through butter.‘Do I care what Jake Paul does day-to-day? No. Will we ever go for a pint down the pub together? No.

‘He’s just a man I am fighting in four weeks and I will come through him easily.’

Tommy can call on the advice of Tyson and their father, John, who has had his own run-ins with Paul.

In November, they clashed at ringside, with John Fury taking off his shirt and attempting to fight the YouTuber himself. ‘Forget my son, I’m the king of the bare-knuckle man,’ he shouted.

But Tommy revealed: ‘My dad is currently on crutches with a broken ankle so he won’t be diving over any ropes.

‘Hopefully it can heal up in the next four weeks, I don’t know. But we are only going over to Saudi to do a job and come home safe and sound.’

BT Sport Box Office will show Tommy Fury v Jake Paul exclusively live on Saturday, February 26. Learn more at bt.com/sportboxoffice