Jake Paul has got fight fans talking by posting a clip where he knocks down a sparring partner as he gears up for his bout with Mike Tyson.
Paul is set to lock horns with the heavyweight boxing icon in Texas, stirring up controversy for a matchup that’s already faced delays. The duo were penned in for a face-off this past July, but an ailing Tyson was sidelined by an inflamed ulcer during a flight. Tyson is medically cleared now and will step into the ring for the first time since his 2018 draw with Roy Jones Jr; as it stands, his final professional fight dates back to 2005 when he bowed out after five rounds against Kevin McBride.
On the flip side, Paul’s record boasts 10 wins out of 11 bouts, nursing just a single defeat by Tommy Fury last year. His most recent win was against stand-in bare-knuckle pugilist and ex-UFC contender Mike Perry, who filled in for Tyson originally. With the bout only a month away, Paul has opted to hype things up by posting footage of him flooring a sparring partner with a robust right hook, followed by taunting words aimed at Tyson: “Don’t charge at me, Tyson”, reports the Mirror.
However, online viewers have cast doubt on the video. Criticisms range from mocking the downed partner’s lack of evasion – commonly considered one of Tyson’s finer skills – to overt speculation about the partner being a mere “paid actor”.
Some commenters have dismissed Paul’s chances altogether, with opinions like “Big Mike going to take bro’s head off his shoulders” and blunt declarations of “Jake ain’t beating anyone up”.
Paul has faced a barrage of criticism for his decision to fight Tyson, who has been plagued by health issues in recent years. Promoter Eddie Hearn, who has previously had disagreements with Paul, has stated that he will exit the venue after his boxer Katie Taylor squares off against Amanda Serrano in their eagerly awaited rematch.
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“The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished,” Hearn shared with BBC Sport. “It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.”
“I’m in awe of him – he’s one of my favourite ever fighters, one of the greatest of all time – but he’s a 58-year-old man. You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again.”