Featured Image Credit: Zuma Press / Alamy. REUTERS / Alamy.
Topics: Boxing, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson
Jayden Collins
Topics: Boxing, Jake Paul, Mike Tyson
Jake Paul has agreed to a mega-fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson.
‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ recently suggested he’d be interested in fighting ‘The Problem Child’ while talking to Jimmy Kimmel.
Tyson was unsurprisingly asked about a fight with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, and replied that he would be interested...but under one condition.
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The 55-year-old insisted a potential showdown must happen this year.
Asked whether he'd face Paul, Tyson replied: "That could be very interesting. I never really took it serious, but yeah, it could be really interesting."
He added: "Everything is possible, yeah. But it gotta happen this year. It gotta happen this year."
Paul tweeted his support to make the bout a reality while showing his admiration for the legend.
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“Thank you to the great Mike Tyson for the respect and opportunity. This year we are making it happen," he tweeted, accompanied with a video of Tyson talking up a possible clash.
Paul has ruffled the feathers of the boxing community in the past for his cockiness despite not facing a ‘real fighter’.
However, Tyson defended Paul’s boxing skill while also praising him for bringing eyes onto the sport.
He continued: “Even if he is fighting fighters that aren’t meant to be good enough, they should still be beating him but they can’t.
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"He is beating people that he shouldn’t really be beating so you have to give him credit. He is doing good and he is doing things that are great for boxing.
“This guy has 7 million people following him every time he fights.
"The champions of the world don’t have that many people following him so what he is doing for boxing is sensational.
"No one should be hating on him, what this kid is doing they should be following him.”
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Paul up against Tyson has been mooted in the past, with UFC commentator Joe Rogan pitching the idea to Iron Mike.
Rogan told Tyson: "Culturally, you versus Jake Paul – this young YouTuber takes on one of the greatest heavyweight champions that’s ever lived."
Reflecting on the idea, Tyson said: "I love that. Sounds good."
He then excitedly added: "Let's do it, Jakey. God, wouldn't that be cool?"
Paul is set to return to action on August 6, having co-promoted Katie Taylor versus Amanda Serrano.
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He hasn't fought since his destructive knockout victory over Tyron Woodley last year.
Tyson, meanwhile, hasn’t fought since his boxing comeback in November 2020 when he faced fellow boxing icon Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout.
But there's no denying it would be an incredible showdown.