13 May 2024 , 22:50
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Jake Paul has vowed to prove fans wrong who insist he can only beat Mike Tyson if their fight is rigged.
YouTuber Paul will take on Tyson in Texas this summer despite being 30 years his rival's junior. The bout will be staged over eight two-minute rounds with the fighters wearing bigger gloves than a standard professional fight. Paul and Tyson came face to face in New York on Monday night and Paul said: "A lot of people are doubting me, a lot of people are saying if Jake wins then the fight is rigged because of how great he looks.
"Age is just a number, he's a killer and he's a warrior. He's been doing this his whole entire life so its second nature to him. I've been doing it for four years and I've been doing it a super-high level but I'm going to prove I can out-box Mike Tyson. I'll be the one doing the killing."
Tyson will be 58 when he walks to the ring at the T&T Stadium, but hit back at those who have criticised him for fighting as he nears retirement age. "I think the people that said that wish they were up here because no-one else can do this," he said. "Who else can shut the sporting world down? No-one else can do it.
"We're going to do this. We're friends but in the ring we won't be friends, that's just what it is. I like Jake a lot but when you're in the ring you have to fight like your life is on the line because it will be."
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On the undercard, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano will meet in a highly-anticipated rematch for the Irishwoman's four world titles. The rivals met in New York two years ago with Taylor winning a narrow points decision.
And she said: "I wanted to Mike Tyson and here he is beside me; an icon of the sport and a legend of the sport. This is incredible. He is a legend and icon of the sport and I fell in love with the sport in the 1990s and Mike Tyson was the biggest name of the sport at the time; he was ferocious. I can't believe I'm sitting next to Mike Tyson right now, I'm pinching myself."