Jake Paul believes a knockout victory over Mike Tyson will place him in the history books and an exclamation point on his controversial career in the limelight.
The YouTuber says he’s never been given credit despite amassing millions of followers through posting video skits as a youngster. A former Disney child actor, Paul turned to boxing to alter the perception of his detractors.
However, the influencer was severely booed this weekend at Fanatics Fest in New York. Paul, almost certainly delusionally, sees a win over a nearly 60-year-old Tyson as his pathway to praise. Not many, especially in boxing, would agree with that notion.
Nonetheless, Paul plows on with the gimmick event and promises to become the third opponent in a row to knock Mike Tyson out.
“I’m making history,” assured Paul on Sunday. “This is what it’s all about for me, man. I’m a kid from Ohio, and they’ll never give me credit. That’s the way it is. If I were walking on water, they would say it’s because I couldn’t swim. And this is to make history.”
On his intentions to go straight for Tyson’s throat, Paul added, “The people think I’m going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy. All the people in my comments say, ‘Look at his power. He’s going to get KO’d.’ This has taken a chance to fight somebody as vicious as Mike can be.
“You got to risk it for the biscuit. That’s the name of the game. I’m here to make history, and I’m here for a challenge. I’m here to fight one of the most dangerous men in all of boxing.
“No one that ever did anything great got there easily or by an easy, non-bumpy road. I’m here to challenge myself. He’s vicious. He’s a killer. I know all of these things. He has one-punch knockout power. He’s the greatest heavyweight of all time. But I will prove all the haters wrong,” he added.
Any boxing historian would tell you Tyson isn’t even ranked in the Top 20 heavyweights of all time, let alone the ‘greatest’ as Paul proclaimed. Tyson’s four-year career from 1986 to 1990 was historic; there’s no doubting that fact. But after his release from prison, the second portion of his boxing tenure left a lot to be desired.
It was simply about the money for Tyson, which is why the Paul event is happening in the first place. Twenty years ago, Tyson couldn’t beat also-ran heavyweights, Danny Williams or Kevin McBride, leaving many to believe Paul could achieve his goal on November 15 in Texas.
It’s an entirely different story whether he’ll get any credit whatsoever or create even a smidgen of history.
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.
