CLEVELAND — Tommy Fury is set to make his United States debut on Sunday night when he takes on Anthony Taylor to kickoff the Jake Paul-Tyron Woodley main card. A surprise wrinkle has been added to the matchup.
It was revealed on Saturday morning at the official weigh-in that Fury and Taylor will now be a four-round affair instead of six due to a rule in Fury's home country of England where the British Boxing Board of Control would suspend the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion if he went six rounds.
"If he went past six, then Tommy Fury would have been suspended when he got home," a member of the Ohio Athletic Commission told members of the media, including DAZN News.
Taylor, who sparred with Paul heading into their respective fights, wasn't too thrilled when he was told the news on Friday evening
"They're saving their fighters," Taylor told the media, including DAZN News. "Tommy is not a real man to go six. I was gonna break him down. I'm not happy because they're taking away my advantage of my cardio and taking him to deep waters. He knew."
Fury's team left immediately without comment after he officially weighed in. Because of that and the matter of him learning the rule change the day before the weigh-in and two days before they step into the ring, Taylor feels there's something fishy going on.
"I'm not gonna talk about purse," Taylor said. "I'm not gonna talk about that. I'm glad that he made weight. But I'm just saying I'm just not pleased and happy of how this has been handled last minute on Fury and his team’s part."