Mike Tyson makes his long-awaited return to the ring on Friday night in Texas, where he will take on YouTuber boxer Jake Paul.
If this fight had been sanctioned twenty years ago, momentarily ignoring the fact that 27-year-old Paul would have still been a baby, there would be little doubt about the winner.
However, Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champion in history, is quickly approaching his sixth decade, while Paul has spent the past five years working with some of the best trainers in the sport on his quest to be taken seriously as a boxer.
This strange turn of events makes the match a lot more difficult to call and has divided opinion among the star names in combat sports.
The blockbuster Netflix event at AT&T Stadium in Texas is expected to be one of the most watched fights of this century, perhaps in part because of its absurdity, or the appeal of seeing Iron Mike lace up his gloves and compete in a professional fight throws. the first time since 2005.
Ahead of the match, names such as Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have announced their predictions for the match.
The eyes of the world are on Arlington, Texas, as Mike Tyson returns to the ring
The former heavyweight champion will take on YouTuber boxer Jake Paui on Friday evening
ROY JONES JR
“Mike Tyson can beat anyone he wants when he wants to, but he can do it when he wants to because he can.” He told Betway. “Jake Paul, on the other hand, has to make some adjustments and learn things he hasn’t done before.
“I think Mike will teach him a lesson and teach him along the way and teach him about boxing for what he knows because Mike knows all the ins and outs of boxing. I think with that being said, Mike could and will win the fight early. If Jake can hang around long enough to tire Mike out, because he’s a 58-year-old man, so that’s possible, and if he can tire him out, then he’s got a great chance.”
Tyson returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition fight against former multiple world champion Roy Jones Jr
PADDY PIMBLETT
“I’ve talked a lot about Jake Paul because he never used to be able to throw a punch, but now that he’s been training for a few years, he can throw a punch.” He told this to OLBG. ‘His boxing doesn’t actually look that bad. But a few years ago when he started and people were saying to me “you fight Jake Paul” I was like “boy he’s fucking sh*te”. But now that he has trained for so long and put in so much work, you have to give him what he deserves.
‘He doesn’t look that bad. Like he outsmarted Mike Perry even though he was carrying like 40 pounds. But it’s Tyson, whether he’s 58 or not, it’s Mike Tyson. I don’t even know [what happens] that’s like a freak show fight, I wouldn’t even make a prediction on that. I hope Mike Tyson knocks him out. As we just said, he is 58 years old and also hasn’t fought in about 15 years.
‘When I met him he was still an absolute unit, and then he was not in good shape. He’s still an absolute brick and mortar. He’s just built that way. Now he’s in shape, but at 58 he shouldn’t be fighting, it’s just ridiculous. It’s just stupid. He certainly doesn’t need to. He has the money not to fight, so I just don’t understand why they’re doing it.”
UFC star Paddy Pimblett has praised Jake Paul for his progress in the sport, but still hopes the 27-year-old is knocked out by Tyson
LENNOX LEWIS
‘Mike Tyson is going to win.’ he told FOX 29 in Philadelphia. ‘He’s not that old yet. Don’t take it too softly. We’re a year apart. “You can fight someone like that and do well because the person you’re fighting isn’t a real fighter and there are a hundred things you’ve forgotten that he’s learning.”
Lennox Lewis won a brutal fight against Tyson in Tennessee in 2002 after an eighth-round knockout
TYSON FURY
“If Mike Tyson hits someone, I don’t care if he’s 90, he’s going to knock them out, right?” he told the MMA Hour. “He’s Iron Mike Tyson, the baddest man in the world.
“Jake Paul is very experienced now and he has had a lot of fights, but obviously I have to back Mike Tyson for the knockout, like he always backs me.”
Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is named after the legendary American boxer
AMIR KHAN
‘You know what, the point is there’s a lot of weight advantage and to be honest, Mike is a friend of mine and I FaceTime him and we speak, but when you have a 65 year old man fighting as a young fighter in his prime you feel sorry, but you can’t feel so sorry for Mike Tyson because he took that opportunity.’ He told Prime Casino.
‘It’s a tough task, but I wouldn’t want to jump into the ring. Ultimately, it’s Mike’s decision to get in the ring and fight. When he gets beat, you want to protect your friend and step in and say I’ll give him a beating. So if he beats Mike Tyson, yeah, I would definitely want to punch him and get him out of the way.”
Amir Khan is concerned about veteran Tyson feuding with Paul, who is 31 years his junior
ANTHOJ JOSHUA
‘He [Mike Tyson] is older now,” he said on the Jonathan Ross Show. “I pray he comes out healthy. I think Jake Paul [wins] because of the youth, that’s the only thing.’
Anthony Joshua is also convinced that age will play a key role in the outcome of the conflict
Paul has a professional boxing record of 10-1, with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury in February 2023
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman hopes the fight will be a spectacle as he believes the pair have the chance to become role models for children
MAURICIO SULAIMAN, WBC PRESIDENT
‘Don’t know. Mike is a legend and an incredible legend who has so many great things and is outstanding.” He told this to OLBG. ‘He had a very ugly end to his boxing career, but he was out of shape and at a completely problematic stage of his life.
“When the world needed entertainment during the pandemic, he stood up and fought Roy Jones Jr. It looked sensational and did exactly what we all expected: to be an exhibition.
“He didn’t try to hurt Roy; it was just a nice display of ability. This time with Jake Paul it’s different. He’s a young, strong up and coming fighter with a great social media following and if it’s an exhibition then we should support it, it’s good for boxing. So let’s support it and make it a great event where kids can look up to Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.”
JORGE MASVIDAL
“No matter how much of an athlete he was, no matter how mean he was in his prime, this is way past his prime,” he told talkSPORT. “So I just don’t know how much of Tyson is left. Could Jake beat him? Yes. But is that Mike Tyson? No.
UFC star Jorge Masvidal is skeptical about Tyson’s prospects in fighting several years past his prime
Former heavyweight boxer Shannon Briggs insists Paul is a ‘tough guy’ because of the time he spends training his brash compatriot
SHANNON BRIGGS
“I want to see a great fight, but at the same time I don’t want Jake to get hurt.” He said through Brownsville Boxing Gym and Academy. “But I’ve trained Jake, and I’m telling you, he’s a tough kid.
“For me it’s absolutely amazing to see him step into the ring with Mike Tyson. I was just training a kid, and for him to even do this, respect to him. Everyone wants Mike to win, but I just want Mike and Jake to make a lot of money, go to the after party together and have fun.
“At the end of the day, it’s about feeding their families. It’s a phenomenal event because we’re now in a time where this will be on Netflix.
‘Damn it, the whole world is going to see it – everywhere! If you have a phone and Wi-Fi signal, you can watch the fight whether you’re in Japan, Switzerland, Africa or even Antarctica!’