Mike Tyson admitted he had doubts about his decision to fight Jake Paul, questioning “what the hell” he was doing. The boxing legend will return to the ring at the age of 58 this Friday and face YouTuber Paul in Texas.
Tyson, who had not fought in four years since his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. and whose last professional fight ended his career after five rounds against Kevin McBride in 2005, had to postpone the fight from its original July date due to inflammation. ulcer. However, he assures fans that he is now in fighting shape, even showing off his trainer during Tuesday’s training.
Reflecting on his training, Tyson admitted: “That I’m tougher than I thought, because when I agreed to this fight and started training, I was like, ‘What the hell am I thinking?’ I’m done with the process, the fight is a party. I never in a million years thought I would fight him.”
Paul, on the other hand, won 10 of his 11 professional fights, extending his record by fighting former MMA fighters such as Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz. He enters Friday’s fight as a favorite, boasting a 31-year age advantage over his legendary opponent.
The energetic fighter expressed his gratitude and outlined his plans for a victorious fight in Dallas: “I’m just blessed to be here, I’m very grateful to all the fans who showed up,” he said after training. Promising an electrifying Friday, he added: “It’s going to be an amazing night in Dallas on Friday. I’m just having fun doing my thing.”
Confident in his preparations, he said: “I feel really good, I’m energetic and explosive, and it’s going to be a miniature evening for Mike. It’s not how long you do something that counts, but how well you do it.” In a nod to his own boxing talent, he said: “On Friday, people will see me beat someone who has been doing this his whole life.”
Announcing his climb, he shared his vision: “We are an unstoppable force, and on Friday my dreams will come true and my career will begin. This is the beginning of an amazing journey, it doesn’t matter what I did before, my career starts now.” He also spoke to his anxious mother at ringside, revealing her fears but assuring her of his fate: “She’s nervous,” he admitted.
“He doesn’t like to watch Mike Tyson punch because he’s a little scared. Mom, I promise you, I was made for this, I was destined for this. The gods have me, the universe has me and I, Jake Joseph Paul will knock out Mike Tyson. It’s written in the fucking history books.