Tommy Fury may not be facing Jake Paul on August 6, but he is still a topic of conversation in the run-up to 'The Problem Child's' fight with replacement opponent Hasim Rahman Jr.
Fury was forced to pull out of the Madison Square Garden contest after visa issues stopped him from travelling to the U.S., and a former opponent of Fury's, Anthony Taylor, believes a fight with Paul will never happen if the American can get past Rahman Jr.
“If Jake defeats Hasim, you’re not going to see Jake fight Tommy. That would be a step back after defeating Hasim," Taylor told Vegas Insider.
"Why take a step back after beating a guy with a great amateur pedigree. Hasim is faster, has more power and experience. If Jake wins there will be no Tommy Fury fight."
Taylor also claimed that the reason why Fury has pulled out of two scheduled fights with Paul is because he will be disowned by his family, including brother and WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, with a loss to the YouTube star turned boxer.
"Tommy is in over his head. He’s not afraid to fight Jake but he’s also not motivated because knows the outcome. And he knows the consequences of losing," Taylor said.
"If he loses, he loses sponsorships, he’ll be disowned from his boxing family - why go through the headache? He’s not scared, there are just a lot of circumstances behind it."