EDDIE HEARN claimed Jake Paul is “not very good” – but still backs him to beat Tommy Fury.
Hearn worked alongside the YouTube star to promote the women’s super-fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano in April.
And Paul’s feathers were ruffled when he was labelled as an “average boxer” by the Essex promoter.
Hearn appears to have stuck by his assessment while still picking the American to beat former Love Islander Fury.
He told JOE: “It’s a 50-50 fight.
“It’s a funny one because it’s terrible for Tommy Fury if he can’t beat Jake Paul, but I don’t think he can beat Jake Paul.
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“Jake Paul didn’t like the fact that I said he was average, but they are both average.
“I don’t mean that disrespectfully and by the way, there are a lot of average boxers. Average is not bad and it’s not good.
“So I said to Jake Paul, ‘I actually think that’s a compliment for you, I’m not saying you’re a terrible boxer I’m just saying you’re not very good’.
“The same advice to Tommy Fury so in that case, it’s a 50-50 fight in that respect.”
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The pair were due to fight in December but Fury was forced to pull out after suffering a broken rib and chest infection while training.
Paul instead knocked out replacement Tyron Woodley, 40, who he initially beat on points in August.
It added to KOs over gamer ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 37.
Meanwhile, Fury returned in April beating Pole Daniel Bocianski, 27, on points on the undercard of brother Tyson’s fight at Wembley.
It was later rumoured that he was in talks to fight Paul once again, who has announced he will make his return on August 6 in New York.
Tommy Fury is in rumoured talks to fight Jake Paul
