Anderson Silva has leapt to the defence of Jake Paul as he prepares to face Mike Tyson.
Paul will defy critics to take on 58-year-old heavyweight legend Tyson in a fully sanctioned professional bout on November 15.
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Many senior voices in the sport have expressed their concern over the iconic puncher's health given he hasn't fought competitively since retiring in 2005.
But Paul's former rival Silva, who was dropped and beaten by the influencer in the boxing ring in 2022, insists it should be able to happen given the entertainment value.
He said: “I mean, that’s so interesting. A lot of people say oh Mike Tyson’s old – it doesn’t matter.
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"It’s a different game, it’s a different sport. It’s entertaining. It’s not the same when you see Canelo and the other different level boxing guys.
"Mike Tyson doesn’t need to prove nothing to anybody. I believe Jake doesn’t need to prove nothing for anybody.
"It’s entertainment. That’s what people need to understand.”
Silva went on to directly defend Paul's reputation in the sport, adding: "Why the people don’t respect this kid?
"The people need to respect, because the guy is made good success in his own job.
"The people who don’t have the courage to do the same start to talk bulls**t.
"I respect him a lot because the kid changed the whole game in this era.
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"I’m so happy because I’m part of that, it doesn’t matter the result.”
Tyson and Paul have regularly lashed back at critics insisting the event will be huge in the boxing world.
It has already been delayed once after the veteran suffered an 'ulcer flare up' which prevented him from training.
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But he has since returned to the gym, and has posted training footage in an attempt to prove his fitness to the world.
Paul has explained that he is fighting him in a bid to make history.
He said: "Making history. This is what it's all about for me, man. I'm a kid from Ohio. They'll never give me credit.
"That's the way it is. If I was walking on water, they would say it's because I couldn't swim. And this is to make history.
"The people think I'm going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy. 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 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 with ease 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."
