'HEARTBROKEN' Tommy Fury has broken his silence after pulling out of his fight with Jake Paul.
The British star, 22, is suffering with a bacterial chest infection AND a broken rib.
And it means his mega showdown with YouTuber Paul – scheduled for December 18 in Tampa, Florida – is off.
But TNT insisted he still plans to fight, and beat, his American rival in 2022.
Fury said: "I am absolutely heartbroken that I have been forced to withdraw from my fight with Jake Paul due to a bacterial chest infection and broken rib.
"The beginning of my camp was going so incredibly and I never expected anything to come in my way from a victory on December 18.
"I can't express now disappointed I am and I really do hope we can get this fight rescheduled in the new year.
"I want this fight to happen more than anything.
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"I'm now regretfully putting my focus on recovery and a further reschedule date."
Fury's promoter Frank Warren added: "We are gutted for Tommy.
"This was a big opportunity for him to show the world what he can do.
"Unfortunately, he’s had to withdraw now as he’s clearly not anywhere near a hundred per cent.
"We’ll be working with Jake Paul’s team to see if we can reschedule for the new year.”
REPLACEMENT ALREADY FOUND
Paul will instead fight Tyron Woodley in a rematch of their August bout – with the ex-UFC star already in training and offered an extra $500,000 [£377,000] if he secures a revenge knockout.
The Problem Child blasted on Twitter: "It is official, Tommy Fury is boxing's biggest b***h.
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"I couldn't believe the news at first, it still doesn't even seem real. He fumbled the biggest bag of his life.
"Now he will be watching at home, paying me $60 instead of getting paid millions of dollars to fight me.
"I've fought with a broken nose, I've fought sick, get the f*** over it – this is boxing."
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