Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off ahead of boxing mega-fight

13 May 2024 , 22:16

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Mike Tyson and Jake Paul face off (Image: MVP)

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fooled around as they face off ahead of their boxing fight this summer.

Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Tyson will come out of retirement to take on YouTube star Paul in an eight-round fight in Texas in July. Tyson has not fought since a bore draw against Roy Jones Jr four years ago while his last professional fight saw him quit on his stool against Kevin McBride in 2005.

Tyson and Paul addressed the media in New York on Monday night before facing off for the cameras. Tyson pretended to punch Paul in the stomach as they rivals joked around. Asked earlier why he had accepted the fight, Tyson said: "It was a no-brainer. He's a new up and coming guy on the scene and I like shaking the sports world to the core and I'm doing it now. It's just something I want to do."

Tyson and Paul will meet over eight two-minute rounds in a fight which will go on their respective records. Both men have been criticised over the fight rules which are normally used for exhibition bouts.

But Tyson said: "I wanted the shorter rounds because we'll have more action. If we only have two minutes we can fight more, we'll have more action." And Paul added: "It's going to be a fire-fight and more punches. It's going to be a sprint in there so it will be more entertaining for the fans.

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"A couple of weeks after the contract was signed we got a call from Mike's team to say he wanted it to be a pro fight. He wants to put it all on the line and I respect him for that.

"He was game. I think he has always wanted to do this. It's been a long time coming and we finally got to make it happen on Netflix, the biggest platform in the world. Things just keep getting bigger and better.

"Mike wanted it and he wanted it to be a pro fight, he wants the war. I respect him for stepping up to try and put and end to me. That's what all the fighters want to do, end the YouTuber and if Mike can do that he's a hero. This is the biggest fight of the 21st century."

Martin Domin