- Mike Tyson and 27-year-old Jake Paul will fight in a sanctioned professional fight
- Oscar De La Hoya insisted a loss to Paul would have no impact on Tyson’s legacy
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
As the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson draws closer, Oscar De La Hoya expressed his concerns for his fellow boxing legend.
The sanctioned professional fight features a striking age difference between 27-year-old Paul and Tyson, who will be 58 by the night of the fight. Still, many fans believe Tyson’s knockout power and killer instinct from his prime will transcend youth and lead him to victory.
However, De La Hoya is on the other side of the fence. In an interview with TMZ SportsThe Golden Boy warned Iron Mike to ‘be careful.’
“I’m going to pray for Mike Tyson because I love Mike Tyson,” De La Hoya said. “I think Jake Paul, look, he’s a real fighter. He really is. It’s a dangerous fight. Mike Tyson, be careful, please.”
The fight will take place on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Additionally, it will be the first event to be streamed live on Netflix.
Oscar De La Hoya admitted he is ‘praying’ for Mike Tyson ahead of his fight with Jake Paul
The fight, which will take place on July 20, is characterized by a striking 30-year age difference between the two heavyweights.
Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2005 and fought in an exhibition fight in 2020
Jake Paul, 9-1, has built a reputation for fighting athletes far from their prime
Paul has built a reputation for fighting athletes who are far from their prime. Wins over the likes of Tyron Woodley, Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva have improved his record to 9-1.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer is coming off back-to-back wins over Andre August and Ryan Bourland.
On the other hand, Iron Mike hasn’t seen the ring since his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 – a fight in which Paul defeated former NBA star Nate Robinson on the undercard.
Tyson had a professional record of 50-6, with 44 knockouts, before retiring in 2005.
When asked if a loss to Paul would be damaging to Tyson’s legacy, De La Hoya insisted: ‘No, Mike Tyson is a legacy forever. Mike Tyson will always be the man.”