‘Complete idiot’ – John Fury says 17st man punched son Tommy ‘bare knuckle’ in the ribs and wrecked Jake Paul fight hope

: "He's had a bacterial chest infection for about six or seven weeks, but that didn't bother us, we were going to battle through that.

"But owing to a complete idiot in the gym, punched him in the ribs. A man of 16 or 17 stone with his bare knuckle, punched him in the ribs and broke his ribs.

"At the end of the day, I was horrified, we were going to try and battle through it, because when we got him x-rayed they said, 'No, it's just bruised, it's ligament damage'.

"And then, he was sparring and he couldn't throw a punch, he couldn't move. He said, 'Look, I'm in bad pain dad'.

"He said to Tyson, 'I'm in bad pain, I can't move'. So, I took him to a specialist in Manchester, they x-rayed him properly and the finding was there.

"Broke ribs, what can you do? Chest infection, broke ribs, it's unfortunate, it's cost a lot of money, people have lost a lot of money, the disappointment is immense for Tommy and us.

"But, we'll bounce back, we're fighters, if you want to reschedule, that's not a problem."

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In Paul's first three fights, he beat YouTuber 'AnEsonGib', ex-NBA star Nate Robinson, 37, and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, also 37.

But his win in August over eight rounds against ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, was his biggest to date.

Fury, 22, was set to be his first opponent with prior professional experience before the Brit withdrew.

And instead of rescheduling, Woodley has now agreed to step in on late notice.

Tommy's dad and coach John has called on Paul to fight his son in March - and threatened to take matters into his own hands if the demand is not met.

'LET'S RENEGOTIATE'

He said: "He sucked the life out of the Fury name for three months, he's had his money's worth.

"But I'll tell you what Jake Paul; if you're any kind of a man at all mate, let's renegotiate this fight for March or I'll come to America and give you and your brother a good hiding.

"I'll slap the pair of you with my backhand, I told you. Don't keep mentioning me, be careful what you wish for pal.

"Because, you know what? I'll just come and backhand the pair of ya. But Tommy, don't worry about it my friend, he will at some point meet you.

"Because there's no other fight out there. Who's going to generate big money? Only Tommy Fury."