Tyson Fury has described the controversial upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as ‘fantastic for boxing’ – despite a number of his peers criticising the surprising match-up.
The fight – which will take place on July 20 and be broadcast on streaming service Netflix – will see the 27-year-old YouTuber turned fighter go up against an opponent 30 years his senior, who has not fought since his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Paul’s promoters are claimed to be pushing for the fight itself to be made a professional contest, despite the fact that Tyson has not been seen in a professional ring since 2005.
By contrast, Paul has compiled a record of nine wins and one defeat over the last four years, with six of his victories ending in a knockout to highlight his punching power, despite his lack of experience.
While some are excited to see the return of Iron Mike to the ring, many have raised eyebrows about the unlikely pairing.
View gallery
Tyson Fury has applauded the proposed July meeting between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson
+5
View gallery
There is a 30-year age difference between the rivals, with Tyson set to turn 58 before the bout
+5
View gallery
The contest will take place at the A&T Arena in Arlington, Texas and stream live on Netflix
But Fury was more energised about the prospect, as he stressed that it wasn’t his place to judge whether the fight should go ahead or not.
‘I think it’s fantastic for boxing,’ Fury said on The Stomping Ground. ‘You’ve got a legend in Mike Tyson, you’ve got a YouTube boxer who’s come into the game and blew it up and has got millions of followers and millions of views and millions of eyes – good, bad or indifferent.
‘Some people love (Paul), some people hate him.
‘So, I think it’s a really good spectacle for boxing, brings a lot of people to the game. Listen, who am I to say Mike Tyson shouldn’t be boxing, or Jake Paul shouldn’t be boxing?
‘Good luck to them, they’re both gonna make what I call “a s***-ton of money” out of it, so isn’t that what it’s about?’
The heavyweight champion also had high praise for the stadium the pair will meet in, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
‘I’ve been to that stadium, when Billy Joe (Saunders) fought Canelo (Saul Alvarez),’ Fury continued. ‘It’s a great stadium, it’ll be fantastic for the guys.
‘Both are getting paid, both are gonna put on a show. I just don’t know what’s not to like.
‘Okay, (one) guy is 57 years old, but he’s a former undisputed world heavyweight king.
‘(Paul has gone) from being a kid on the Disney channel to fighting Mike Tyson, who wouldn’t want to do that? You’ve got to admire them both.’
+5
View gallery
Tyson has not fought a professional bout since 2005 and hasn’t stepped in the ring since 2020
+5
View gallery
By contrast the YouTuber has won nine times and been defeated once over the past four years
Fury – who is due to contest his own big-money match-up when he meets Oleksandr Usyk in their delayed undisputed heavyweight champion clash on May 8 – suggested that the contest itself will be’pretty even’.
But the Gypsy King also hinted at the real reason both Paul and Tyson might have agreed to face off against one another in July.
‘People say, “Ah, it’s s***,'”and this, that and the other,’ Fury suggested. ‘But I bet they still watch it.
‘Who’s not intrigued?’
News
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul’s fight is ‘f***ing ridiculous’, says UFC chief Dana White – with postponed clash in Texas set to be given a new date
Dana White called Jake Paul‘s fight against former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson ‘f***ing ridiculous.’ The upcoming bout, which was postponed after the 57-year-old suffered a medical emergency on a cross-country flight, was scheduled to take place in Texas next month. The UFC boss laughed…
New date for Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul is announced after controversial fight originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed
Jake Paul’s postponed fight with Mike Tyson has been rescheduled for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The upcoming bout was originally scheduled for July 20 until the 57-year-old Tyson suffered a medical emergency during a cross-country flight on May…
Eddie Hall produces BRUTAL knockout in his MMA debut as British strongman defeats TikTok duo in bizarre 2v1 bout in the World Freak Fight League
Eddie Hall’s MMA debut ended in chaos, as the British strongman scored a knockout victory in a bizarre bout on Friday night. The former winner of the World’s Strongest Man competed in a unique 2v1 handicap bout for his first…
Mike Tyson sends chilling warning to Jake Paul after controversial fight was rearranged: ‘Different date, same fate’
Mike Tyson is still promising to render Jake Paul unconscious when the two finally meet in the ring on November 15. The former undisputed heavyweight champion was initially slated to face Paul, 27, on July 20 in a controversial bout three weeks after…
Boxing champion Savannah Marshall wins her MMA debut with stunning first-round stoppage before facing off with rival Claressa Shields and demanding a rematch inside the cage
Savannah Marshall secured a brutal first round victory in her MMA debut in Newcastle on Saturday night. The boxing star took on Mirela Vargas in PFL Europe and delivered a dominant performance, with the fight stopped with 32 seconds of the first…
Moment Ryan Garcia is led out of his five-star Beverly Hills hotel by cops in handcuffs while bizarrely wearing a helmet after arrest
This is the moment Ryan Garcia was walked out of his five-star Beverly Hills hotel by police officers in handcuffs. The controversial boxer was arrested for felony vandalism at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday. He has reportedly now been released after…
End of content
No more pages to load