Mike Tyson admits villain role to young foe in 58-year-old fight with Jake Paul

ARLINGTON, Texas — Friendship is at the heart of how a fight broke out between 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and much younger YouTuber boxer Jake Paul.

Friction helped build the hype for a fight that’s testing the formula for how boxing is brought to the masses, a first-ever combat sports offering from the streaming platform Netflix instead of pay-per-view or traditional cable.

“I think they’re beloved fans of Mike Tyson,” Paul said, trying to explain the boisterous boos that greeted him when the two appeared together to hype the event in recent months.

“And I’m the new kid on the block, the disruptor, the loud mouth and the polarizing figure,” Paul said. “And I built my career as a heel. Of course people want to oppose me, and that’s great for the sport of boxing.”

Tyson’s first sanctioned professional fight in almost two decades is scheduled for Friday evening at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. An audience of at least 60,000 is expected, with Netflix offering the fight at no extra cost to more than 280 million subscribers worldwide.

27-year-old Paul is relatively new to the sport; the former social media influencer compiled a 10-1 record with seven knockouts, mostly against mixed martial artists and journeyman boxers.

Asked about the friendship earlier this week, Tyson said: “There’s no feeling attached to it.” He proved it by punching Paul when they faced off after the weigh-in Thursday night.

Tyson seemed to take offense to the way Paul approached him before the confrontation, but didn’t bother to explain. “The conversation is over,” Tyson, who weighed 228 pounds, said when one of the hosts tried to ask a question.

“Now it’s personal,” Paul shouted into a microphone before storming off stage. Paul weighed 227 pounds.

Tyson was 50-6 with 44 knockouts when he retired after losing to Kevin McBride in 2005, saying he had nothing left to offer to the sport. He last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. without fans during the pandemic in 2020.

A fight originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed when Tyson required treatment for a stomach ulcer after falling ill during a flight.

Tyson said in a documentary about his fight preparations that he lost 26 pounds during the recovery process.

Promoter Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul, said Tyson was medically cleared weeks ago. Bidarian dodged how concerned he was about Tyson’s health once he entered the ring.

“I’m nervous for both guys,” Bidarian said. “The reality is that Jake has never been hit in the chin by someone like Mike Tyson. And Mike hasn’t fought someone like Jake in a long time. That’s what makes this so.” interesting.”

Paul said he had a vision for the fight about two years ago and shared it with Tyson because he thought the Hall of Famer would understand – and be interested. It took about that long for the fight to happen.

Tyson appeared irritated at both hype events with fans in the Dallas area, first in the weeks before the originally scheduled fight and again at a press conference two nights before the fight.

He was more reflective in a smaller setting with reporters, suggesting he was not the same foul-mouthed, scowling fighter of his youth.

“I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” Tyson said. “I have been in rehabilitation. I’ve been in jail, locked up. Never in a million years would I have believed I would do this.”

According to reports, Paul will be paid $40 million for the fight, a number he mentioned at another press conference in New York in August.

Tyson, who served two prison terms in the 1990s for rape and sexual assault convictions and was declared bankrupt 21 years ago, will receive $20 million. Tyson has said he doesn’t fight for money.

“That old Mike Tyson… he has no purpose in my life anymore. He just doesn’t exist,” Tyson said. “I’m enjoying my life. I don’t have much time.” left, so I’m having the best time of my life.”

Several states would not approve of the fight. Texas agreed to a fight that was eight rounds instead of 10 or 12with two-minute rounds instead of three, and heavier gloves designed to reduce the force of punches.

Paul has constantly faced questions about why he would fight someone so much older, regardless of Tyson’s heritage. His answers were consistent.

“I say talk to Mike and tell Mike,” Paul said. “He is the one who wanted it to be a pro fight and I, as a young person in this sport, will not pass up the opportunity to fight the GOAT of boxing. It’s like Ja Morant turning down a 1-v-1 against LeBron. It’s not going to happen.”

There’s a high-profile championship fight on the card: the co-main event of Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano.

Paul said he wanted to put the women in the spotlight after their brawl at the sold-out Madison Square Garden in 2022. It was the first time women had headlined a boxing event at the famous venue.

Taylor won a split decision many wondered. Bidarian and Paul say the rematch for the undisputed super lightweight title will be the most lucrative women’s sporting event in history.

“A lot of people said the real main event is Taylor-Serrano,” Bidarian said. “I’m okay with it if you feel that way. Jake has said he’s more excited about that fight than his own. But we wanted to make sure that the most eyeballs got to see that fight. To be completely honest, Paul-Tyson attracts a bigger audience.”

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