Mike Tyson has made an honest admission ahead of the fight with Jake Paul (Image: John Nacion/Getty Images)
Mike Tyson has dispelled any notions that money is the driving force behind his fight with Jake Paul, declaring that his comeback to boxing after a four-year absence since his exhibition clash with Roy Jones Jr in 2020 isn’t about financial gain. The legendary fighter’s prior professional battle was nearly twenty years prior when he bowed out following five rounds with Kevin McBride in 2005.
Tyson, now 58-years-old, is gearing up for a bout against the YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, despite a striking 30-year age disparity. However, the iconic heavyweight maintains his re-entry into the ring stems froma desire for risk, rather than fiscal reward.
With earnings currently flowing more from cannabis endeavors than pugilism, Tyson feels drawn to the thrill of exposing himself to danger and self-discovery in front of a global audience. “I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis,” Tyson said during commentary at a Cage Wars MMA event last week, affirming that the inherent risks in facing Paul appeal more to his sense of identity as a man than any potential paycheck.
“That’s bulls*** for me. I’m a man; I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk, sometimes I want to see who I really am. “I want to see what I’m really made out of, I want to perform in front of the world. To me, that’s all I ever knew how to do since I was 14. This fight is not going to change my life financially enough. This is just what I want to do.”
Tyson is set to take on Paul in a match consisting of eight two-minute rounds. The 28 year-old boasts a record of 10-1, having recently triumphed over MMA and bareknuckle boxing star Mike Perry, reports the Mirror. The bout came about after Paul’s original fight with Tyson was delayed due to the latter suffering an ulcer flare-up during a flight, rendering him medically unfit to fight at the time.
READ MORE: Daniel Dubois and Frank Warren send clear message to Anthony Joshua ahead world title showdown
READ MORE: Anthony Joshua sends blunt warning to Daniel Dubois ahead of world heavyweight title showdown
Despite not being in peak condition currently, Tyson has expressed confidence in his recover. “It’s hard to walk right now,” he said before adding optimistically, “But two months from now I’m going to be perfect. The fight is won in the gym. Listen, I’ll do anything that will help me. I’m going to enjoy my time here tonight with all my childhood friends, and the hell with Jake Paul.”
Netflix is set to stream the fight, with both fighters sharing an $80million (£60m) prize fund. Meanwhile, Paul has been vocal about his motivations, saying: “Making history. This is what it’s all about for me, man. I’m a kid from Ohio. […] They’ll never give me credit. That’s the way it is. If I was walking on water, they would say it’s because I couldn’t swim. And this is to make history. The people think I’m going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy.”
