RICKY HATTON will be absolute ‘made up’ for Tommy Fury when he lands his fight with Jake Paul – even if he loses to the YouTuber.
The former Love Islander is closing in on a grudge match with the social media star turned boxer, which SunSport exclusively revealed will take place in Miami on December 18.
Hatton has known Fury – the half brother of WBC heavyweight champ Tyson – for many years and will be over the moon for him when his multi-million-pound payday is finalised.
In an interview with The Daily Mail, he said of the Paul fight: “I’m made up for him.
“When the Love Island offer came up, I said to him and his dad that he needs to go on.
“My job as a trainer and a friend isn’t just to get the fights for you, but it’s to make sure you’ve got enough pennies in the bank.
“I told Tommy that I thought he could make more going on Love Island.
“He’s gone on Love Island, made himself a big name and had a few fights here and there and now he’s got Jake Paul.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“I’m absolutely delighted for him. He’s made a load of money, so yeah go for it.”
YouTube sensation Paul is a novice in the boxing game, despite his rapid rise to becoming one of the most talked-about fighters in the sport.
Hatton, 43, has no doubt in his mind Fury, 22, will get the better of The Problem Child and catapult himself into global superstardom.
He said: “Tommy’s got a lot of ability, I’ve trained him.
“But being a world champion and beating Jake Paul are two different things.
“I think he beats Jake Paul, and if he does and he becomes a big name, then he can start to be more ambitious and go for a world title.
“If he beats him – or if he doesn’t even beat him – I’ll be made up for him, for the life he’s made himself.”
Fury’s boxing pedigree will make him a huge favourite going into the fight, although he’ll have the added pressure of potentially being disowned by brother Tyson and dad John if he comes up short.
During an appearance on The True Geordie Podcast, John said: “If it’s a close fight, Tommy’s retired.
“If Tommy beats him and struggles to beat him, he’s retired from boxing.”
When pressed further on his stance, John added: “He [Jake Paul] is a YouTuber.
“He’s got to be knocking Jake Paul out.
“He’s got to box him and knock him out, he’s a YouTuber.
“And I’m not wasting my time on people in the gym because I haven’t got a lot of time left at 56-years-old.
“So I’m not going to train with somebody I’ve got no faith in. So I’ve told him, ‘unless you knock him out, pal, forget me with boxing.’ I’ll walk away.”
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
