John Fury, father and trainer of unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Tommy Fury, indicates that his son will be ready to face Jake Paul in March.

Fury was scheduled to collide with Paul on December 18 in Tampa, as the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View card, but on Monday he officially withdrew from the bout due to injury.

Paul (4-0, 3 KOs) will now face Tyron Woodley in a rematch of their August encounter - which saw Paul win an eight round split decision.

Tommy Fury, younger brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, explained that he broke a rib in training camp and was also dealing with illness.

If Paul is not interested in rescheduling the fight for early next year, then John Fury warns that his son will go in another direction.

“Tommy’s coping with it but bacterial chest infections linger for frigging weeks and the broken ribs, somebody in the gym caused that," John Fury told talkSPORT.

"I don’t know how that happened but there are some stupid people in this world and we can’t help that. “If Jake Paul wants to reschedule for early spring, no problem. We’re up for it and if he doesn’t then he can keep himself as well. We’re not interested in him.

“We ain’t bothered about any fighter on the planet. This is a business to us and I know the ‘casuals’ lose their heads over it but all of it is strictly business. Can Tommy beat Jake Paul? Course he can. It’s unfortunate. I know people are going to say we’ve had this and that to say but you can’t stop fate and accidents happening, can you?

“We’re not going to be negative about it. He’s got the broken ribs, he’s got the bacterial chest infection, we get it out the way, move on. If he wants to fight in March, not a problem. If he doesn’t we’ll find somebody else.”