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Mike Tyson points at what initiated Jake Paul slap

Written by Tom Eaton on 15th November 2024.

Mike Tyson Jake Paul Slap

Mike Tyson has dominated press conferences throughout his illustrious career, often attempting to intimidate his opponents and regularly having the same effect on viewers of the pre-fight pressers. However, tasked with a social media star who thrives in front of the microphone, it was always going to be a tough task to strike fear into his rival and ‘Iron Mike’ instead resorted to a physical slap – but it has now been revealed what triggered the viral act.

Whilst many believe that his showdown with Paul is becoming a heated one, this contest pales in comparison to the intense build-up of Tyson’s clash with Lennox Lewis in 2002, where ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ initiated a brawl between he and the legendary British-Canadian.

Tyson would go on to lose that contest and then on two further occasions before hanging up the gloves in 2005 following a defeat to Ireland’s Kevin McBride but after almost two decades of inactivity the two-time heavyweight champion is set to make a return to professional fighting.

His dance-partner is one that is 31 years younger and although he may not have the accolades that a man of Tyson’s status can boast, Jake Paul will enter the ring as the favourite and has lofty ambitions in the sport of boxing.

Thus far, Paul has fought on eleven occasions and won on ten of those outings, with a maiden loss coming against Tommy Fury.

Nevertheless, his ability to handle the pressure on the big stage is something that should not be overlooked – trumping a plethora UFC stars who had been more regularly under the spotlight and accustomed to the combat sports environment.

As such, ‘The Problem Child’ has proven that he is at least a capable professional boxer and his sparring partners believe he could have what it takes to become a world champion in the future.

Although, his career would assumably come crashing down if he were to lose to a 58-year-old, regardless of whom that 58-year-old may be.

At the weigh-in, the tension between the American duo was palpable and eventually boiled over when Mike Tyson slapped Paul on stage.

Yet, it has now been discovered that Tyson was not the initiator on this occasion and that Paul instead stepped on his foot, showing a lack of respect for the former undisputed champion, and the heavyweight fan-favourite can be seen pointing this out following the slap, in what looked like an attempted body punch upon first viewing.

Mike Tyson Points Jake Paul

Paul-Tyson will top an intriguing card in Arlington, Texas and both have hit the scales at what seems to be their desired respective weight, Paul scaling 227.2lbs and Tyson weighing-in at 228.4lbs, six pounds lighter than he weighed when fighting Lennox Lewis.

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