Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are set to face off over eight two-minute rounds this November.
There is a 30-year age gap between the two competitors and, while Paul has been staying active in the boxing ring against former MMA fighters, Tyson has been retired for the best part of two decades.
Some in the sport believe the former undisputed champion can turn back the clock against the much less experienced 27-year-old, but former world champion turned analyst Paulie Malignaggi told Pro Box TV that there’s a good chance his heavyweight hero gets hurt.
“I was alive and can remember the Mike Tyson mystique of the late eighties. It’s sad for me, bro. I’m happy anytime the guy can make money and be all right, he’s one of the first heroes that I can remember … I can literally remember what it’s like to wake up the morning of a Tyson fight, pre Buster Douglas, and be like wow … I don’t want to see the guy get hurt, that’s all, man. I feel like Jake is more dangerous than everybody’s giving him credit for.”
There was a red flag already when Tyson, 58, was forced to postpone the event due to a medical emergency later revealed to be an ulcer flare-up.
Paul kept the fight date and knocked out bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry to stay active.
The fight is now rescheduled for November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and will be streamed live on Netflix with Katie Taylor’s rematch with Amanda Serrano serving as chief support.
