Mike Tyson lit the touchpaper at yesterday’s weigh-in for his eagerly awaited showdown with Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium, Texas.
The pair will finally square off later today, headlining a stacked card that is set to bring millions of eyeballs to Netflix’s first ever live boxing event.
Elsewhere on the card, women’s boxing icons Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will collide for the undisputed super lightweight crown in a fiercely anticipated rematch.
And yet, while the more traditional action taking place beforehand should outshine the controversial main-event, it is safe to assume that the majority of spectators will be tuning in for one reason alone.
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Roy Jones Jr believes Mike Tyson’s emotions will benefit him in Jake Paul fight
Throughout his prime years as the youngest world heavyweight champion of all time, Mike Tyson was known for his uncompromising, spiteful attitude.
In more recent years, however, boxing fans have grown accustomed to seeing a more relaxed version of the once formidable wrecking machine.
That said, it appears that the friendly, lovable version of Tyson is now no longer with us, as he has instead chosen to adopt his more notorious aura once again.
And so, with ‘Iron Mike’ being resurrected, it was perhaps unsurprising when he gave Jake Paul a slap at their weigh-in.
Of course, the 58-year-old has now revealed that he simply retaliated after Paul trod on his foot.
But still, boxing legend Roy Jones Jr, who fought Tyson in an exhibition bout back in 2020, insists that the incident has brought the best out of his former foe.
“That’s Mike, that’s vintage Mike,” Jones told Fight Hub TV. “It means that Mike isn’t just going through the motions, he’s serious about it, you know. So I like that.
“If I hadn’t seen that [slap], I’d be worried that this fight may not even be for real. Mike’s style – he can never be too emotional.
“That’s how he lived, he fought off [his] emotions. I lean more towards Mike, of course, because Mike’s the traditional boxer.”
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Jake Paul goes full Ivan Drago on Mike Tyson at their weigh-in
A fired-up Paul was handed the microphone shortly after getting slapped by his rival during their final face-off.
In response to the incident, the YouTube star paraphrased Rocky 4 villain Ivan Drago and said: “It’s personal now, he must die.”
The slap, as it happens, had virtually no effect on the 27-year-old, who reached a career-highest weight of 227.2 lbs when he hopped onto the scales.
Tyson, too, looked in phenomenal shape, but could be a Ferrari with no engine by the time he steps into the ring.