14-5-2024 (NEW YORK) In an electrifying press conference at New York City’s iconic Apollo Theater, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson sent a bone-chilling message to his upcoming opponent, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. As Tyson prepares for his first professional bout since 2005, he left no doubt that the 20th of July clash will be a matter of life and death for the brash 27-year-old social media celebrity.
“I really like Jake a lot, but once he’s in that ring, he has to fight like his life depends on it, because it will be,” Tyson ominously declared, his words carrying the weight of a man who has spent decades in the brutal realm of prizefighting.
The highly anticipated eight-round heavyweight spectacle, set to unfold at the palatial AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – home of the Dallas Cowboys NFL franchise – will be contested with 14-ounce gloves, and the outcome will be duly recorded on each fighter’s professional ledger.
Tyson, now 57 years of age, revealed that he had specifically requested the shorter two-minute rounds, believing that such a format would lead to a more action-packed and entertaining contest for the fans. The Brooklyn-born boxing legend also fired back at critics who have questioned the wisdom of his return to the ring, stating defiantly, “The people who said that wish they were up here, because no one else can do it. Who else can do this? Who else can shut the sporting world down? No one else can do it. So you got the both of us.”
Addressing his relationship with Paul, Tyson acknowledged their friendship but made it clear that such bonds would be cast aside once the opening bell rings. “We’re friends, but in that ring, we’re not going to be friends,” he asserted.
For his part, Paul – who has amassed an impressive 9-1 professional record, with six victories coming by way of knockout – exuded a mixture of respect and confidence when discussing his formidable opponent. “Age doesn’t matter, age is just a number. He’s a killer, he’s a warrior, he’s been doing this his whole entire life. So it’s second nature to him. I’ve been doing this for four years,” Paul stated.
However, the Ohio native also suggested that he possesses a distinct advantage in raw power, boasting, “I know it’s going to be tough, I know I’m going to have to fight through adversity, I know I might even go to the canvas, but I’m scared, don’t get me wrong. It’s not about the fear stopping me, it’s about going into it even though I am scared, and that’s what true bravery is.”
Tyson, who described the decision to face Paul as a “no-brainer,” emphasized his desire to shake the foundations of the sporting world once more. “He was the new up-and-coming guy on the scene, and I like shaking the sports world to its core, and I’m doing it now. It’s just something I want to do.”
With tensions mounting and the clash of generations looming, Tyson and Paul are set to participate in another press conference on Thursday in Arlington, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable summer showdown.
