Jake Paul has sent a "termination notice" to Tommy Fury as he seeks to cancel their fight for a second time.
The YouTube star was due to face Fury on August 6 at Madison Square Garden, but is expected to announce tomorrow that he will face Hasim Rahman Jr instead. Love Island star Fury was banned from travelling to America for a press conference to launch their fight last week, leading to doubts over the fight taking place.
And in a statement posted to Twitter today, Paul confirmed that he has put the wheels in motion to officially call off his fight with Fury. He has sent the Brit, with whom he has a long-running rivalry, a termination notice, and will announce his new opponent tomorrow.
"Fury’s received a termination notice," he said. "MVP [Most Valuable Promotions] did everything it could to help him and team. He wasn’t interested and he literally went into hiding. Second time in a row he has pulled out. second time in a row I’m going to step up and take on a new opponent on short notice. August 6. MSG."
Paul has not confirmed he is facing Rahman Jr, whose dad is former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, as yet, but he is heavily touted as the new opponent. Stats site Boxrec has changed the event page for Paul vs Fury to indicate that he will face the heavyweight in a new main event in New York City.
Rahman's brother Sharif, a 6-0 professional boxer in his own right, confirmed earlier today that Rahman and Paul will fight. He tweeted: "Hasim Rahman Jr vs Jake Paul it’s a done deal!! #ForTheCulture #LetsGoChamp."
Fury's ban is believed to be unrelated to his brother Tyson's recent travel issues, as well as his father John's long-standing block due to his criminal record. The Brit has been silent since confirming he would be missing the press conference last Monday, but it is believed that his team wanted the fight moved to allow Tommy to fight with his family in attendance.
Are you disappointed that Tommy Fury and Jake Paul's fight is off? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Fury fought Anthony Taylor in August last year without any of his regular corner, and is understood to have been training with Shane McGuigan in recent weeks. But he will now have to look for another opponent after losing out on yet another Jake Paul fight.
The pair were scheduled to fight in December last year, but Fury broke his rib in training and was forced out of the contest. He was replaced then by former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who Paul viciously knocked out.
Paul had offered to move next month's fight to the UK, under the caveat that Fury's promoter Frank Warren would put up a $15m purse to account for the money he would lose by bringing the bout from America. Paul is promoting the event under his Most Valuable Promotions banner, which he runs with manager Nakisa Bidarian.
