Jake Paul suffers 1st loss of boxing career in split decision against Tommy Fury

Jake Paul suffered the first loss of his fledgling boxing career as he was edged out by Tommy Fury at the Diriyah Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, with the British reality TV star scoring a split decision win against the American social media star.

Watched by luminaries such as Fury's half-brother and current WBC heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, former champion Mike Tyson and soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently joined Saudi club Al Nassr, Paul's considerable shortcomings were highlighted as Fury picked him off over eight rounds.

"Tonight I made my own legacy, I made my own legacy," Fury said, finally stepping out of the shadow of his illustrious boxing family.

"All the way through these two and a half years, I had a dream, a vision, and no-one believed me. Now they can stand up and take note," he added.

Fury had the better of the opening exchanges but Paul began to settle in the third as he tried to lure his opponent forward and counter with big right hands.

Fury had a strong seventh round despite a cut near his left eye from a clash of heads, repeatedly tagging Paul with combinations.

A short left hand downed Fury in the eighth and final round to shift the momentum in Paul's favour to set up a grandstand finish in which both men chased a knockout punch that never materialized.

Fury finished strong and claimed the decision.

"All respect to Tommy, he won, don't judge me by my wins, judge me by my losses. I'll come back, I thought I deserve that rematch, it was a great fight, a close fight," Paul said in the ring as his boxing record slipped to six wins and one loss.

Two judges scored the bout 76-73 for Fury (9-0, 4 KOs), while the third favoured Paul, 75-74.

Fury is the first actual professional boxer