Mike Tyson took up the challenge of postponing the fight with Jake Paul, claiming it had to take place between October and December.
The highly anticipated clash between heavyweight legend Tyson and social media sensation-turned-boxer Paul was initially expected to lithe up the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas this summer. However, the event was postponed indefinitely after Tyson suffered a flare-up of an ulcer during last week’s flight, leaving him unable to take part in the match for health reasons.
Paul addressed the delay of the fight, expressing his disappointment: “Obviously, devastating news. I am devastated, speechless and gutted. [Tyson] you said you wanted to do it in the fourth quarter, I’m ready, you just need some time, so I’m ready whenever you are,” he stated.
He continued, emphasizing the importance of this fight: “It’s too substantial of an opportunity and I think this fight will change the world, so I’m turning all my L’s into W’s and that’s the motto I live by. We work so demanding here at this camp, I just feel sorry for everyone involved, an opportunity was stolen from all of us.
Due to his advanced age, Tyson will have to undergo exacting medical tests, including brain and heart scans, before he can return to the ring. The former undisputed heavyweight champion was close to celebrating his 58th birthday around the original date of the now-postponed fight.
Demonstrating sportsmanship, Paul added: “I really value Mike’s health above all else. I love this guy. I have great respect for him and I want Mike to be robust.”
Even though the peak of his career was long behind him, Tyson faced a wave of criticism for agreeing to fight Paul. The former heavyweight champion, who last fought professionally twenty years ago against Kevin McBride, recently reassured fans following health scares.
“My body is generally in better shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to a full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but ultimately you’ll still be out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and look forward to an unforgettable performance,” Tyson said.
The fight was originally scheduled for July 20 at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The fresh fight date will be announced on June 7, allowing the fight to remain live on Netflix.
Tyson Fury seems to be gaining strength before his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21.
Fury will be looking to exact revenge on Usyk when they meet for the second time in Saudi Arabia, seven months after their first meeting, in which the Ukrainian won split decision win the undisputed heavyweight title.
Undisputed glory will be up for grabs for the “Gypsy King” in the rematch after Usyk vacated the IBF belt, which Daniel Dubois then defended in a fifth-round defeat of Anthony Joshua last month, to advance to the full IBF title.
Fury, who suffered his first professional defeat, appears keen to gain a mental advantage over his rival after he began taunting him on social media on Thursday.
The 36-year-old referred to the disastrous ninth round in which he hit the ropes and was knocked out standing.
The two-time world heavyweight champion survived the onslaught and made it to the final bell, and Fury feels his inability to completely finish him off will be crucial when they meet again.
“About halfway through you feel the wrath of the gypsy king,” he wrote on his Instagram story.
“You should have finished me off when you had the chance.”
The two behaved respectfully as they sat close to each other at Wembley Stadium to witness Dubois’ shock victory over Joshua and even took selfies together.
However, Fury dropped these niceties by posting profanity in an Instagram post.
“You had a chance, but you couldn’t finish the job! Mistake!
“Now you will feel the wrath of the threat! Fuck Usyk. Fuck Aegis Klimas. F*** Alex Krasiuk and if you’re with Usyk, then fuck you too.
“Gypsy King 2024 for coming to you. December 21st is mine. Me against the world. Upcoming 3-time heavyweight champion.”
Usyk became the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis achieved the feat in 1999 and became the inaugural champion of the four-belt era.
The 37-year-old, who has never been drawn into a war of words, replied to the Briton with a basic five-word answer.
Former Manchester City star Micah Richards has bizarrely thrown his hat into the ring to become the next star to turn his hand to boxing.
Several stars have joined the ring over the past few years, with former Leicester City defender Danny Simpson and countless TikTok influencers getting involved with Misfits Boxing – the company founded by YouTuber-turned-celebrity KSI.
Wayne Rooney and Luke Littler have previously joked that they wouldn’t mind joining the ever-growing line-up in the future, and reports claimed that a fight between TV personality Joey Essex and Tommy Fury, Tyson’s brother, was likely.
With the rise of impact boxing showing no signs of slowing down, pundit Richards joked that he wouldn’t turn down an invitation to fight – although he’s set the bar quite high due to his lack of experience.
The former Aston Villa captain recently boxed former player Malik Scott, who married Richards’ CBS Sport colleague Kate Abdo earlier this year. Footage of the 36-year-old on the pads was then broadcast earlier this week and his combinations did earn him some praise.
Commenting on the clip, Abdo said: “Very nippy. Misfit boxing? Celebrity fight, will it be a challenge for you? Do we have a disagreement with someone we can make an appointment with? Let’s make some money.”
Richards then replied: “Jake Paul fights Mike Tyson, right? So I’m next. They call me Iron Mike Jr.” The response was met with laughter in the studio, although Thierry Henry chimed in to warn his colleague not to bite off more than he can chew.
The Frenchman said, “Be careful what you wish for.”
There is no rematch clause in the contract, but Dubois’ promoter Frank Warren has said publicly that they would be open to a reunion with “AJ.”
A rematch is apparently the preferred option for Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh, who organized the event and was pictured with Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn Lately.
UFC star McGregor believes the Watford fighter should go straight back for his second fight with “Dynamite” and believes he should change his tactics to win this time.
“Make no mistake, I think what should happen next between Joshua and Dubois will be a rematch,” the Irishman said.
“And stay on the ground. Don’t even go forward, don’t even go back. Stand your ground and meet up.
“Joshua has a good, robust jab.
“He almost came back and really hurt him with it before he got caught with the shot.
“This is a live fight between two very competitive fighters who just gave us all a show in front of 96,000 fans on behalf of Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh.
“Do it again. Really, do it again.
McGregor is being linked with a sensational return to boxing against four-weight world champion Terence Crawford.
The 36-year-old has only had one professional boxing fight, stopped by Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 in the second highest-grossing fight of all time.
Crawford was reportedly offered a contract for two fights with the UFC world champion in two weight classes, one boxing fight and one MMA fight, although “Bud” revealed that he turned down the offer.
“I told Conor, ‘Hell no,'” Crawford said in an interview with Bernie Tha Boxer on YouTube.
“They called me and offered me the fight, and me and Conor called and started getting political to figure something out.
“I told him, ‘Man, I’m not getting in any f**king octagon with you so you can kick me and elbow me and f**k me.’
“He started laughing and said, ‘Man, I respect that. You respect my sport as much as I respect your sport and you understand that if you get into the Octagon you will be at a disadvantage. Just like if I get into a boxing ring with you, I will be at a disadvantage.”
“But he said, ‘We’re going to make a hell of a lot of money.’
“I said, ‘Yeah, sometimes it’s not about the money, I can make it, but you’re not going to kick me, man.’
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