Jake Paul has been warned that he may end up facing a different beast than he is used to on Friday night.
There is now just over a day to go until Paul takes on boxing icon Mike Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Over 65,000 are expected to attend, with over 280million subscribers getting the fight for free as part of their Netflix subscriptions.
And one WWE Hall of Famer believes that ‘Iron Mike’ could reel in the years on the night and land a massive knockout victory. The former heavyweight champion turned 58 this summer, but is still considered to be one of the most feared punchers in the world.
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WWE Hall of Famer Titus O’Neil has watched Jake Paul in the flesh multiple times
As part of the WWE’s new broadcast deal with Netflix, Global Ambassador Thaddeus Bullard was invited to Texas to take in fight week festivities for their first ever live fight. Known by ring name Titus O’Neil, the former tag team champion was inducted in the 2020 Hall of Fame class when he won the Warrior Award.
He was in attendance for open workouts yesterday, watching on as Mike Tyson almost knocked out his own trainer Rafael Cordeiro. And he is actually something of an expert when it comes to Tyson’s opponent Jake Paul, having taken in his fights live on four occasions.
“I was at the Mike Perry fight and I was also there when he fought Tyron Woodley and landed a crazy knockout,” Bullard told Bloody Elbow in an exclusive chat. “I have a ton of respect for him simply because he literally dove himself into a sport he had never done.
“What he has been able to accomplish and build, not only for himself but other fighters in the sport of boxing has been amazing. We are in sports entertainment and this is very WWE-ish when it comes to the build-up to the fight and you don’t get much bigger of a platform than this fight on Netflix.”
Titus O’Neil believes Mike Tyson will land KO victory over Jake Paul
However, despite his outspoken support for Paul, Bullard still believes that Mike Tyson is arguably the greatest boxer of all time. And if ‘Iron Mike’ can show even a glimpse of his former power, the WWE star reckons he will get another quick knockout win.
“Just about every time he did anything, whether it was an interview or a fight, just his demeanour and his entire presence and aura that he exudes in every room, he was just ready to fight,” Bullard explained of Tyson.
“He’s at that point now where all the talking is over, and I’m looking forward and hoping to see the Mike Tyson of old to the best of his ability. The fight is only eight rounds and two minute rounds, and at 58-years-old anything can happen.
“He never needed two minutes before, and given that he is Mike Tyson and I saw him yesterday at practice, I wouldn’t want to get in the ring with him… My prediction for Friday night, as much as I admire and respect what Jake Paul has built, I’m also an old school fan.
“That inner fan in me and that old school thing tells me Mike Tyson is going to be victorious. And if he wins it’s going to be by knockout.”
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