Tommy Fury BROKE DOWN IN TEARS after beating Jake Paul on a close split decision in Riyadh.

It was an outpouring of emotion that concluded a two-year period of ridicule towards Tommy and his boxing career. Never before has a British prospect had to navigate the frenzied ‘influencer’ world just to prove their worth in the ring.

And it is a world that lives by its own rules.

Those rules usually maintain that the storyline is manipulated to deliver the most dramatic ending. But boxing is a difficult sport to choreograph, and both Tommy and Jake will vouch for that after SHARING EIGHT ROUNDS under the brightest of lights.

The fight began how many envisaged with Fury’s jab denying Paul any access into the action. His answer was to search for the big right hand but it continually whistled into thin air.

Paul seemed to learn pretty swiftly that he wasn’t going to get much success from range. This was emphasised even more by another straight left jab that rocked his head back.

Fury did, however, seem wary of the potential that Paul’s right hand could land and was reluctant to take any avoidable risks. The pair were locking up in their exchanges which at times made for a difficult watch.

Round four started with a Fury assault as Tommy raced out of his corner aggressively. However, it was Paul who delivered the shot of the round and arguably the shot of the fight. A wildly accurate left hook landed beautifully.

It was clear both men were feeling the tempo and the clinches highlighted as much. The fifth round saw Jake lose a point for a back-of-the-head punch. It seemed harsh, and fuelled by the frustration he began to throw heavy.

But things were evened up on the deduction front as Tommy was disciplined for holding in the sixth.

Still in control though, Fury was doing all he could to avoid the scrappy exchanges to which his lesser-skilled opponent was suited. But what he lacked in skill he made up for with commitment. No way would he be leaving the ring with regret.

And he would not be leaving without making his mark either.

In the eighth and final round, Jake Paul sent out a left jab that timed itself with an unbalanced Tommy Fury. For the first time in his career Tommy was on the deck, and what looked like a comfortable night at the office had turned into a fidgety one.

And, when judge number one read 75-74 to Jake Paul, it seemed even more so.

But two 76-73 scorecards finalised a result in favour of Tommy. A result that hails a significant milestone in his young career. FOR TOMMY THIS WAS HIS HERE AND NOW. He had sidelined all boxing ambition in pursuit of proving his worth.

Proving his worth whilst SURROUNDED BY SOME OF THE SPORT’S MOST SUCCESSFUL FIGURES. The Fury name must come with a weight that at times feels impossible to lift. Sure, last night will not be remembered in the annals of boxing history.

But for Tommy Fury, it is a night that allows him to live again.

For now…

Oscar Bevis 

Official reporter for iFL TV