Tommy Fury's dad John has admitted that he is actually a fan of YouTuber-turned-boxer brothers Logan and Jake Paul, and is "playing a game" with the American.
Fury and Paul will square off on February 26 after years of needle, including multiple altercations between the fighting family and the social media star. As recently as November, a brawl almost erupted when John and Tommy both attempted to go after Paul at ringside after his grating commentary on the Brit's exhibition bout with Rolly Lambert.
But in an exclusive chat with Mirror Fighting as an ambassador for Freebets.com, the Fury patriarch has admitted that he truthfully has no ill-will towards the Pauls. In fact, he believes that he gets a good energy from being around young fighters for major events such as the upcoming battle in Saudi Arabia.
"When we [the Fury family] see other people like that we turn into fight mode," Fury explained. "I've been fighting all my life on the streets, out of the streets and when anybody talks loud to me or tries to be clever I go into fight mode, that's what we do. But afterwards, the best man will win.
"I'm one million pre cent confident it will be Tommy, but I'm sure they can be friends after. They're just young lads doing their job and Jake Paul is very good at that job! I'm having a game with him like he's having a game with me, always remember that. I'm an old, experienced guy in this field.
"I like the kid, I like him and his brother Logan, I like all of them YouTubers, they bring good stuff and at the end of the day I'm excited talking to them. Old people, like me, can get good vibes off young people and I love to see young people doing well in life and that's what the Pauls have done. As well as all the other YouTubers, KSI, Salt Papi, they're all great for the job aren't they?
"I love it, it gives me more of a thrill than conventional boxing, it's different isn't it? People like different and I'm sick of conventional boxing, I love this side of it!"
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And Fury insists that incidents such as his shirtless attack of Paul in Dubai last November was no more than the result of an adrenaline rush after watching his son compete. The 57-year-old made headlines when he took off his shirt and went for Paul who was commentating at ringside, demanding that they fight instead of the American and his son Tommy.
"I absolutely love it," Fury said of the pageantry around major influencer fights. "I mean him no harm, I am what I am. I get excited and it just gives me shockwaves right through me. I get those adrenaline rushes where I just want to throw punches and I'd fight anybody on the night, even now I'm 57-years-old, 58 this year.
"But I'll still have a row at the drop of the hat. You insult me, I'll punch you straight in the mouth - I won't talk to you it's just 'bang'. So if somebody's prepared to insult me make sure they try to hit me first because in a split second 'bang' it's on the chin, as old as I am."
