Mike Tyson has been warned of the potentially catastrophic risks attached to his controversial showdown with YouTube star Jake Paul on November 15.
The 58-year-old is returning to a professional boxing ring for the first time since his devastating sixth-round stoppage defeat to Kevin McBride nearly 15 years ago.
Nevertheless, the Brooklyn-born bruiser, who became the youngest world heavyweight champion back in 1986, will undoubtedly be eager to test his skills against Jake Paul, a boxing novice.
But still, several concerns over Mike Tyson’s health have been expressed in the build-up to his lucrative clash, which will headline Netflix’s first ever live boxing event.
Katie Taylor admits she is concerned for Mike Tyson ahead of his fight with Jake Paul
Colliding at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, too, will be women’s boxing legends Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
The pair went toe-to-toe at Madison Square Garden, New York, over two years ago, becoming the first women to headline a show at the iconic venue.
Then, following their compelling 10-round battle, Taylor edged a highly contentious split decision victory, retaining her undisputed lightweight crown.
But now, the Irishwoman has agreed to put her undisputed status up at 140 lbs on the line, taking on Serrano once again in a fiercely anticipated rematch.
Their second encounter will take place moments before Paul and Tyson finally make their ring walks, with Taylor hoping that her idol comes away from his assignment unscathed.
“Yeah, there are obviously concerns there,” Taylor told talkSPORT. “I don’t want to see [Tyson] getting hurt.
“As an icon of the sport, I have so much respect for Mike Tyson as a fighter and what he has done for the sport.
“He’s in there against a real young, fresh guy in Jake Paul – and he’s a good athlete as well.
“But Mike Tyson seems to be very confident in himself. He seems to be putting the work in and training hard so I hope he comes out on top.”
What have Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano done since their first fight?
Given that Tyson was forced to postpone his dustup with Paul – after sustaining an ulcer flare-up ahead of their originally scheduled bout in June – it is only natural for Taylor to harbor doubts about his health.
Ahead of her upcoming fight, though, the 38-year-old has only enhanced her legacy, becoming a two-division undisputed champion after avenging her only professional defeat to Chantelle Cameron.
Serrano, meanwhile, has made a monumental statement in her sport too, becoming the first woman to fight over 12, three-minute rounds towards the end of last year.
And so, with both combatants looking to cement their greatness, one would suspect that their rematch can only deliver fireworks.