Jake Paul has challenged Katie Taylor to bet their respective fight purses, which are believed to be well into the millions.
The social media star will face Mike Tyson on Friday night, with Taylor taking on Amanda Serrano in a rematch of their historic Madison Square Garden fight in the co-main event. And an otherwise drab press conference sprung to life on Wednesday night when the Irishwoman was asked to pick a winner.
Taylor is a massive fan of Tyson’s, and has previously expressed how honored she is to be sharing a card with her idol. As such, she backed him to beat Paul, which angered him and led him to to challenge the omen’s boxing icon to a big money bet.
- Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson: How to watch, live stream, start time, full card and rules
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson share drab final press conference before fight night
The heavyweight affair between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is one of the most talked about fights in recent memory, and has drawn attention from the world’s media. But in front of their watching eyes and cameras, their final press conference appeared to be a dull one.
Tyson was far from his vintage form, and only seemed to liven up when Bruce Carrington did an impression of his famous Lou Savarese post-fight promo. He imitated the legend’s signature interview, to which Tyson delightedly replied that he was “off his meds” during that moment.
Otherwise, host Ariel Helwani chaired a relatively tame Q&A that dragged at times as Tyson clearly looked like he would rather be anywhere else. But Paul brought the stage to life right at the death after the undercard were all asked to give their predictions for the fight.
Jake Paul challenges Katie Taylor and other fighters to massive fight bets
Katie Taylor was one of a majority of fighters who picked ‘Iron Mike’ to win the main event, and was the last one to face his wrath as he goaded the rest of the field during an emphatic promo. He took his mic and walked across the stage, demanding that they bet varying amounts of money.
He slammed Carrington at one stage and demanded that Neeraj Goyat and other fighters on the undercard bet huge amounts of their purses. But the biggest wager of the night came when he got to Taylor, who is reportedly making $6million for her rematch with Serrano.
Paul, who has previously claimed to be earning $40million, approached Taylor and asked her what she would be willing to bet. And despite looking deeply uncomfortable within the situation, the Bray native was witty enough to tell him to bet his purse.
The pair shook hands on the deal, with Paul later claiming that he would be drafting up contracts for all of the fighters who had agreed. If Taylor were to win, it would see her become far and away the highest earning female fighter of all time.
She and Serrano are both making record purses for the bout, with the American expected to make slightly more as the ‘home’ fighter under Most Valuable Promotions. But if she left with Paul’s purse, it would be a stratospheric amount to pocket right at the end of her professional career.
- Who is Mike Tyson? All you need to know about the boxing legend after match with Jake Paul