Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s upcoming crossover boxing fight has divided opinion among the combat sports world.
The social media star is 27-years-old, and takes on 58-year-old heavyweight legend Tyson whose last professional fight was in 2005. And with the fight recently being approved as a fully professional bout in host state Texas, many fear that the boxer could be injured.
However, Tyson is very confident of rolling back the years and landing an highlight reel finish that would likely cost Paul his fighting career. And for the YouTuber’s part, he has moved up from as low as 183lb last year to compete at heavyweight.
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UFC legend Chael Sonnen’s shock admission about Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson
Speaking with Bloody Elbow at yesterday’s Bellator Paris weigh-ins, legendary trash talker and world title contender Chael Sonnen admitted that he feels Paul will leave with the victory. And as a fighter who grew up in the Tyson era, Sonnen feels he is being “blasphemous” with his prediction.
“I think that Jake is going to beat Mike Tyson,” Sonnen began, before noting “That’s blasphemy! I just said that I think Jake Paul is going to beat Mike Tyson!
“I’ve never said those words out loud and that did not feel right. But he is a 2/1 favourite, I think for a reason.”
Chael Sonnen tells fighters to emulate Jake Paul ahead of Mike Tyson fight
Sonnen, who has chaired press conferences in the past for Paul, believes that he is someone who can inspire others in the fight world. “I’m impressed with Jake, by the way,” he added.
“I think he’s somebody that people should study, not tease and I think he’s somebody that people should copy and emulate.
“I feel like he really came in and figured this out, not to mention that’s some heavy lifting. Right off the bat he’s already taking on some great athletes, even the slam dunk guy [Nate Robinson] is a great athlete.
“Ben Askren was a serious competitor, Tyron Woodley was a world champion, he’s awesome. You ever touch Tyron Woodley? It’s like touching an oak tree, and he got over on him twice.”
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson breaks records in first day of ticket sales
Paul and Tyson had their final promotional face-off last night in Arlington Texas, where they will fight on July 20. Things were much more heated on the second date of their press tour, as the heavyweight showed more annoyance with his rival and the gathered press.
The pre-fight event was used to promote tickets finally going on sale, with the 102,000-capacity venue already selling out more than half of its allocation. Paul is claiming that the event has already broken records, as is his promotional partner Nakisa Bidarian.
Paul shared a video harkening back to his days as a child star on the Disney Channel, in which he told fans would “knock out Mike Tyson”. And in another cryptic tweet, he wrote: “Breaking news: Records broken.”
Chael Sonnen was speaking ahead of tonight’s Bellator Paris event at the Accor Arena. Find out how to watch at Bellator.com