Mike Tyson shouldn’t have agreed to fight a young, hungry, active fighter and is on the path to getting knocked out.
That’s the view of wannabe boxer Jake Paul, the influencer behind offering Tyson $20 million to face him in a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations-sanctioned professional contest at 58. Paul says he’s not going to hold back in the Netflix bout and will aim to put Tyson through the canvas despite his advanced age.
Most Valuable Promotions delayed the event from July after Tyson suffered a stomach ulcer flare-up. Paul defeated Mike Perry on the old date in a warm-up.
Speaking to the Claman Countdown on FOX, Paul made his promise.
“I know Mike Tyson will be the toughest opponent I’ve had yet. A lot of these people have these reputations. But I’m the new king of the block. I’m just confident in my ability. I’ve been training. I’ve been active,” he said.
“He’s an animal. The baddest man on the planet. But that’s what they say about all my opponents. You’re going to watch me knock out one of the greatest ever to do it, whether you like it or not.
“He wants to fight me, and so it’s an honor for me to be in there with a legend. But I have to do what I do best, and that’s put people to sleep.”
Asked what would be the best value for money on the night, Paul added, “I’m going to knock out Mike Tyson. So if people want to bet, that’s the safest bet that you should go for.”
Tyson is facing mass criticism for agreeing to the fight, and many die-hard boxing fans hope the event is called off at some point over the next two months.
The pair will trade blows on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, hoping to break the indoor boxing record held by Canelo Alvarez vs Billy Joe Saunders in May 2021.
Whether that happens or not could become academic for Mike Tyson, as getting knocked out by a former Disney child actor will be far worse for his legacy than defeats to Danny Williams or Kevin McBride.
Should ‘The Problem Child’ pull off his promised feat, Tyson would have been humbled for three professional bouts running and lose much of his kudos for returning to a fight the consensus believes he cannot win past the second round.
Tyson has to go for it from the off in the two-minute rounds, or Paul’s prediction, along with a post-fight ear-bashing, is inevitable.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
