Former US heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson and US YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul face off during a press conference (Image: Getty Images)
Jake Paul has been cautioned by former boxing professional Paulie Malignaggi that significant damage inflicted on Mike Tyson in their impending bout on 15 November in Arlington, Texas, could lead to public outcry for the sport to be prohibited.
Concerns about Tyson’s fitness persist, with the fight following an originally scrapped matchup due to Tyson’s health scare, and recent confessions from the 58-year-old heavyweight sensation revealing his struggles post-training while he is set to undergo a pre-fight medical. Malignaggi commented on the risks involved: “Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike’s age aren’t good. When you’re younger, you can handle hits better.”
He added thoughts on the potential backlash if anything were to go awry, claiming the bout should not be happening at all: “When you’re older, your body isn’t made for that kind of damage anymore. Things could go badly wrong. If something like that happened, people would be calling for the sport to be banned.
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“Personally, I don’t think his fight with Jake Paul should happen. He’ll be 58 years old by then. Fifty-eight is still 58. We live in a generation that doesn’t understand ageing is a real thing. You can show highlights of Mike from the ’80s, but the guy stepping into the ring won’t be that same Mike Tyson.”
Malignaggi has expressed serious concerns that Paul could potentially harm Tyson due to his age. In a conversation with Canada Casino (via the Mirror) he stated: “Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he’s certainly not a novice. He’s been boxing for about five years.
“After four years of boxing, I won the US National Championships, so Jake’s far from a beginner. He’s strong and young. Hitting someone Tyson’s age has serious risks.
“Tyson wasn’t taking punches well at 36, let alone now. If you hit a guy who’s that old, it affects them. Imagine what getting hit by a strong guy like Jake would do to him. I wouldn’t want to find out.”
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Malignaggi isn’t the only one expressing concern over the upcoming fight. UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock also believes that fans could effectively be left in mourning for a boxing icon should Paul claim victory.
“Here’s what I say because like I said, I think what Jake Paul and them guys are doing is brilliant, I really do,” said Shamrock. “I think them never fighting a contender but making more money than any world championship fight is brilliant. I mean it’s brilliant but this one’s not good. Because Jake Paul can’t win.
“[If Paul] wins, there’s a huge bad taste in the world of boxing. It’s a disappointment to an organisation that has loved Mike Tyson. It is like the death of somebody and it should be victorious for Jake Paul and I think on that small group of people that are following, yes, but, in that whole atmosphere of boxing, it’s gonna feel like somebody died.”
