MMA icon Dan Hardy believes Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson's fight still may not happen.
Paul and Tyson will meet in a stunning showdown despite being 31 years apart on November 15, in a sanctioned professional bout.
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There have been justifiable health concerns for Tyson, who is now 58 years old, as he already withdrew from their original planned date in July.
Hardy, who fought in the UFC for several years, admits he wouldn't be surprised if things got derailed.
"As much as I’m enjoying Jake Paul as a phenomenon in combat sports, I feel like beating up Mike Tyson would not do great things for his brand," he told Bloody Elbow.
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“I honestly think a lot of the fun poking and fat suits and stuff that we are seeing now is actually working against him a little bit because Mike Tyson is held in such high regard.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if that fight falls away and Mike is somewhat protected by the people around him because I do think that would be worth considering for them.
“There’s so many people Jake Paul can fight, he doesn’t need to be fighting Mike Tyson. If he was calling him out ten years ago, 15 years ago, fair enough.
“This version of Mike is not the person who represents who Mike Tyson was when he was at the top of the sport.”
Despite medical fears, Tyson has been in training for the event having been cleared to return following his injury.
'Iron Mike' hasn't fought competitively since losing to Kevin McBride in his final fight before retiring in 2005.
He has returned to the ring previously in a more evenly matched clash against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
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But his physical condition has declined again since, and he has worryingly admitted he has been 'struggling' with the intensity of camp.
However, he insists he is willing to take the risk.
“I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis,’’ Tyson said. That’s bulls*** for me. I’m a man.
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"I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk. Sometimes I want to see who I really am.
"I want to see what I’m really made out of. I want to perform in front of the world.
"To me, that’s all I ever knew how to do since I was 14. This fight is not going to change my life financially enough.
"This is just what I want to do.’’
