Legendary boxer Mike Tyson has sent a terrifying message to Jake Paul as the pair begin to build towards their November fight.
The former world heavyweight champion is an icon within boxing, and is set to make his return to the ring at 58-years-old in 2024. Many feel that it’s an ill-advised decision to face a 27-year-old active prospect in his first professional bout since 2005, with the likes of Dana White questioning if it will happen at all.
However, the promotional run is now in full swing with Tyson and Paul making a number of mainstream appearances to push the bout. It is set for the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Friday November 15, with Netflix broadcasting the event free to subscribers of the service.
Mike Tyson claims he likes Jake Paul, but he ‘has to go’
There appears to be something of a friendship between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, with the social media star kickstarting his professional career on his rival’s undercard in 2020. Now, though, Paul has been pushing Tyson’s buttons as they begin promotional efforts for their fight.
The boxing icon appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night, declaring that he would have to beat Paul ‘very badly’. During the interview, he appeared to play down the rivalry between the two, but did find himself admitting that he plans a violent end to the fight.
“I don’t look at myself as a middle aged man,” he noted, before claiming that before the Roman calendar was invented there was no concept of time. When Kimmel told him that he had plans to ‘bet a lot of money’ on him winning the fight, he replied that he “is thinking that would be a very good idea.”
“I started Jake Paul off,” he continued. “My fight with Roy Jones Jr, I allowed him to fight on the card. So I’ve decided that I started him, and now I’m going to finish him… I liked [Jones Jr] a lot, I like [Paul], but in this particular fight he has to go.”
Mike Tyson details six hour training sessions for Jake Paul fight
Many fans have been concerned for Tyson’s health in this fight given his advanced age, and the fact he last fought even in exhibition circumstances four years ago. He has begun a rigorous training regime, insisting that he began camp back in August when asked by Bloody Elbow.
He has claimed that he is ‘struggling to walk’ at the moment, but told Kimmel that he has been training intensively over the past few weeks. When the host joked that Paul is likely ‘s***ing a brick every day,’ Tyson noted that he has his own concerns but is getting more confident as the fight grows closer.
“That’s part of fighting,” he explained. “I’m nervous too, but the closer it gets to the fight the less nervous I get. I’m training extremely hard, I start at 11 in the morning and I might leave the gym at 5pm. There’s a small break.
“After I finish my boxing I get a massage for an hour but then I go right into strength and conditioning. I have smoked, but not any time soon. I’m going to be so high off life.”
