Evander Holyfield says former opponent Mike Tyson has two ways to beat Jake Paul when the two fighters fight on July 20.
Holyfield, who was fighting the same age as his rival when he lost in the first round to Vitor Belfort, outlined the only weapon in Tyson’s arsenal. The Real Deal says that if Tyson doesn’t land as well, it could be a long night for the youngest-ever heavyweight champion.
When asked in an interview with Fight Hub TV if Mike would lose if he thought it would hurt boxing, Holyfield replied: “I personally wouldn’t take it that way.
“This man has fought his whole life for whatever reason he chose to fight. We already know that he won’t be as swift as him, but if he catches up, we know that you will not lose strength [with age]”
On how Tyson can beat Paul, Holyfield added: “I think basically the only thing he can catch him with is a left hook or a right hand. Mike knows you don’t have to punch a guy in the face all the time.
Questioning Paul’s impact resistance due to the fact that he had never actually been hit with a demanding punch, Holyfield stated: “This could be the end [if Tyson catches him] because he’s never fought someone who punches like Mike.”
The pair became eminent for their rematch in 1997, when Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s ear, for which he was disqualified. The first fight was dominated by Holyfield, who eliminated Tyson at the end.
However, Mike’s frustration level was clearly high on both occasions, so it could have been detrimental to Paul if he had actually started to dominate during the Texas exchange. Tyson is older and wiser, but he still has that dog in him, as he proved not too long ago when a fan irritated him during a flight.
If Paul beats Tyson and the annoyance level reaches an all-time high, who knows what might happen in those ropes? This could also be a large reason why nearly 80,000 spectators are expected to pack into AT&T Stadium for the first Netflix boxing event available to all subscribers.