The conjecture surrounding the Mike Tyson v Jake Paul fight has not stopped in the lead up to the November 16 bout despite reassurances it will still go ahead.
Tyson will undergo a medical a day before the event, according to reports, as several former fighters have thrown shade at the event, with some even declaring it won’t go ahead.
But at this stage, both men appear to be ready, despite Tyson admitting he “can barely walk right now” when asked during a recent podcast appearance. The former heavyweight champ assured those invested that he will be in fighting shape come mid-November.
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The comments sparked more fear into fight fans and whether a man approaching official retirement age should step into the ring with someone 31 years his junior, and what potential damage may occur in the ring and more broadly for the sport itself.
Former champion Paulie Malignaggi echoed those fears, and laid out the worst possible scenario during a recent interview with Canada Casino.
He said if boxing’s worst fears are realised on a platform as broad as Netflix, for tens of millions of people to witness, the fallout could have dire consequences.
“Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike’s age aren’t good. When you’re younger, you can handle hits better,” he said.
Mike Tyson does a promo video for the fight before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. on September 15, 2024 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“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. 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.”
Paulie Malignaggi. Getty
Yet Tyson has rejected the notion that Paul could inflict such damage upon him, despite Paul being 10-1 with only a 2023 points defeat to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, 25, on his record.
“Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he’s certainly not a novice. He’s been boxing for about five years,” Malignaggi added.
“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.”
Paul said during the event’s latest media tour in New York the fight with Tyson will help “in my future fights and everything that I want to accomplish.”
Tyson and Jake Paul put on a show. Getty
But according to the PFL’s CEO Peter Murray, Paul will commit to MMA in 2025, with the Tyson bout being his last in the squared circle for some time.
“We’re lining it up, Jake is finishing up boxing this year with this massive fight against Mike Tyson then a lot of planning is going into Jake Paul’s debut in 2025 and we’ll be sharing those details,” Murray told SportsKeeda.
“Jake is committed to fighting a very, very credible, well-rounded MMA fighter and it’s not easy to cross over from boxing into MMA.
“The crossover from MMA or other disciplines into boxing is a lot easier.”
Despite taking on fighters well past their best, Paul has said he wants to become a champion in the sport of boxing.
The WBA has said it is “open” to a clash between Paul and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. for a belt.
WBA President Gilberto Mendoza Jr. posted on X that he isn’t opposed to sanctioning the fight for a world title.