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Tommy Fury won in eight close rounds when he beat Jake Paul on a split decision in Saudi Arabia.
Fury squared off better overall, measuring the distance between them to land jabs and catch Paul with right hand counters.
But Fury had to get up from a knockdown in the final round, when he stepped fully into Paul’s blocking left hand.
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Tommy Fury, under pressure to win, came with his brother and WBC heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury
Paul has taken the boxing world by storm, using his social media profile to build a career in the sport.
However, his progression through boxing was decidedly unorthodox. He defeated another influencer, a basketball player, before defeating a succession of MMA fighters, even including the aging Anderson Silva.
But against Tommy Fury, Paul is trying to prove himself against his first opponent with a boxing background, despite being a boxer better known for his appearances on reality television, and being the younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Both men are relative newcomers to professional boxing and start with understandable nerves. They pawed with jabs but Fury first landed a lead left.
He took heart from it and began to gallop forward, powering into clinches at first.
But it was Fury who began to take the size of his opponent and settled in earlier in the match.
He countered Paul coming in, landing a solid right cross and worried him with his jab.
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In the dressing room before the fight, Tommy Fury happily sings with his brother Tyson before holding his hand.
Fury looks to spin around, but Paul keeps going and tags in with a solid left hook.
The match was marred by clinches and both sides had points deducted by the referee, Paul for hitting the back of the head and Fury for holding.
Paul showed heart, stepping on the front foot and slinging punches at opponents when he could.
He tightened the contest when he scored the knockout in the final round.
One judge scored the bout in favor of Paul, scoring it 75-74, but the other two had it in Fury’s favor, each scoring it 76-73.
Fury then announced: “For the past two and a half years, this is all that has ruined my life. Tonight I’m making my own legacy – I’m Tommy Fury.
“I had a dream that I would win, people doubted me, but everyone can understand now.
“I have the world, the pressure on my shoulders and I can handle it.
“This is a world title fight for me, this is my destiny, my destiny.”
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