Mike Tyson reveals why he had to pull out of Jake Paul fight
Legendary boxer Mike Tyson has opened up about his feelings towards Jake Paul, admitting that despite a desire for victory in the ring, he quite likes the Ohio native. Tyson, age 58, is geared up to clash with Paul on November 15 in a boxing match that has divided opinion across the sport's community.
Concerns have been expressed regarding Tyson's health and safety given the significant age difference of 31 years between the fighters. Additionally, in a departure from exhibition matches, this encounter is set to directly impact both fighters' records—raising the stakes even higher for Paul, who could enhance his standing with a win over the iconic 'Iron Mike.
The eagerness for the dispute was temporarily curbed when the bout had to be rescheduled after Tyson suffered a stomach ulcer, prompting medics to advise against the confrontation with the ex-Disney actor. However, Tyson has now confirmed that his health issues are resolved, asserting control over his diet and declaring himself ready to meet Paul in combat.
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Facing off at the sprawling AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a 90,000 spectator capacity, Tyson maintains a sense of amicability towards Paul off the canvas. In a conversation on "Jimmy Kimmel Live", the celebrated pugilist reflected on his opponent: "I like him but in this particular fight he has to go. I don't look at this like it's going to be an easy right. This guy is going to be prepared, but I'm prepared for it sure.", reports the Mirror.
Tyson also responded to suggestions Paul might be intimidated, adding, "Well, that's part of fighting, I'm nervous too. But the closer it gets to the fight, the least nervous I get."
Tyson revealed the rigorous training regimen he's undertaking to prepare for the bout, stating: "I'm training extremely hard. I start at 11am and I might leave the gym at 5pm. When I finish doing my boxing sessions, I'll get a massage for an hour and then I go into strength and conditioning."
This intense preparation is a far cry from his recent admission that he had let his diet and vaping habits get out of control in the lead-up to their originally scheduled fight date. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he confessed to "doing too much bad food and stuff, and I got sick" and struggling with his vaping addiction, saying "I can't escape the vapes".
With this fight set to impact his current record of 50 wins, 44 knockouts, and six losses, many believe it could also affect his legacy. However, Tyson remains unfazed, saying: "I didn't take this fight for legacy. I think legacy really, to my perspective, legacy is ego. Who gives a f*** how people think about them when they are gone? I'm dead. I can't value off what somebody might think about me when I'm dead, so it means nothing to me."
Tyson has not competed at a high level since his 2005 loss to Kevin McBride, whereas Paul boasts a record of 10 wins (seven knockouts) and one loss, including a recent victory over bare-knuckle boxing champion Mike Perry in July, where he scored knockdowns in rounds one, two, and six.