Mike Tyson’s ruthless approach to his fast approaching clash with Jake Paul has captured the attention of legendary rapper 50 Cent.
The former world heavyweight champion will come out of retirement to take on YouTube star Jake Paul in a controversial showdown at the AT&T Stadium, Texas, later this evening.
But, instead of making an effort to promote their blockbuster event throughout fight week, Mike Tyson has largely refrained from exchanging verbal blows with his opponent.
Rather, the 58-year-old is seemingly more focused on getting the job done, adopting a menacing aura that once saw become known as the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet.’
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Mike Tyson dismisses his legacy ahead of Jake Paul fight
Ahead of his comeback fight live on Netflix, Tyson has been afforded plenty of time to reflect on his decorated legacy in boxing.
During the 1980s, he was the closest thing to an unstoppable force, producing a plethora of pulverizing finishes to dispatch each one of his rivals.
Before long, ‘Iron Mike’ had become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time, securing a brutal second-round stoppage over Trevor Berbick at the age of 20.
But then, after making nine emphatic defenses of his crown, the American found himself on the receiving end of perhaps the greatest upset in sporting history, losing in stunning fashion to James ‘Buster’ Douglas.
Tyson would go on to reclaim his jewelry, of course, before falling short in his career-defining nights against the likes of Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
Still, it goes without saying that Tyson has cultivated one of the most formidable legacies that boxing has ever seen.
And yet, in his viral interview with a 14-year-old girl, the former heavyweight king insisted that his legacy means absolutely nothing.
“I don’t believe in the word legacy. I just think it’s another word for ego,” Tyson told Jazzys World TV. “Legacy doesn’t mean nothing. That’s just some word everyone grabbed onto. Someone said that word and everyone grabbed on to it and now it’s used every five seconds.
“It means absolutely nothing to me. I’m just passing through. I’m going to die and it’s going to be over. Who cares about legacy after that?
“We’re just dead. We’re dust, we’re absolutely nothing. Our legacy is nothing.”
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50 Cent reacts to Mike Tyson’s interview with 14-year-old girl
Boxing fans will be accustomed to seeing this more aggressive version of Tyson who, despite mellowing out in recent years, appears to have kept hold of his fearsome attitude.
That said, rap star 50 Cent has questioned whether the Brooklyn-born bruiser should be acting this way in front of children.
On X, he said: “Goddam it! Mike ya scaring the kids, WTF… Chill. Note to self, keep the kids away from Mike.”
Regardless, it appears that Tyson’s mindset, if nothing else, highlights the seriousness he is taking with him into his dustup with Paul.