Unironically describing the November 15 Mike Tyson-Jake Paul bout as the ‘fight of the century,’ kayfabe wrestling legend Hulk Hogan offered some betting advice to TMZ viewers on Wednesday.
Only instead of picking the 27-year-old Paul, a former YouTube star who has fought 10 sanctioned bouts in the last four years, Hogan is going with Tyson, a 57-year-old battling an ulcer condition.
‘When he gets focused, he will seek and destroy,’ the 70-year-old formerly known as Terry Bollea told TMZ. ‘I see that bad dog look in his eye now. It’s like when you don’t trust a bad dog, it might bite ya at any time. That’s the look he’s got.
‘I remember that look from 25 years ago, it’s kind of scary,’ Hogan added after thinking all the way back to 1999.
Satisfied with that assessment, Hogan went on to say that he’s happy the bout was postponed from July 20 after Tyson suffered a medical episode that has since been described as an ‘ulcer flareup.’
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Hulk Hogan and Mike Tyson (right) arrive at the Premiere Of ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin” in 2005
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Mike Tyson, Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul pose onstage during a May 16 press conference
The issue occurred last month on a cross-country flight to Los Angeles.
Paramedics later boarded the plane to treat him after it had touched down in LA.
Once the plane landed at LAX, there was another delay of around 25 minutes while the paramedics treated Tyson.
‘I’m excited about it,’ Hogan said. ‘I’m kind of glad it’s rescheduled because I don’t want any excuses. I want both men at 100% .
‘And I’ve got a feeling this is gonna be the fight of the century, brothers. This is gonna be a good one.’
Despite his health scare, Tyson remains supremely confident of winning by knockout on the new November date.
In a video message recorded last week, the boxing legend warned Paul after their fight was officially rescheduled: ‘Different date, same fate. Imma knockout Jake Paul.’
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Jake Paul speaks onstage during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson press conference in Texas
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Since the May press conference, Tyson has suffered an ‘ulcer flareup’ that delayed the bout
Mike Tyson seen working out days before health scare
Given many were uncomfortable with it going ahead beforehand, Tyson’s health scare has sparked even more concern over the fight icon’s safety heading into the rearranged date with Paul.
UFC President Dana White has branded the contest ‘f****ng ridiculous’ while highlighting the worrying age gap between the two men.
‘God, no,’ White said, when asked if he had anything to do with it.
‘When this fight happens, Tyson will be 58 f***ing years old. A f***ing almost 60-year-old man shouldn’t be fighting a 27-year-old guy. Under any circumstances. Even if it’s Mike Tyson. It’s just f***king ridiculous,’ he continued.
Instead of Tyson, Paul will face Mike Perry in the ring next month, according to boxing-centric X account, @HappyPunch. Mail Sport has reached out to Paul’s reps for comment, but have not received confirmation.
Best known as a bare-knuckle fighter, Perry has one boxing match to his name: a 2015 knockout defeat to Kenneth McNeil.
