--- title: "Mike Tyson points at what initiated Jake Paul slap" canonical: "https://boxing-social.com/news/mike-tyson-points-jake-paul-slap/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Tom Eaton" section: "News" published: "2024-11-15T10:16:22Z" modified: "2024-11-15T13:20:24Z" --- # Mike Tyson points at what initiated 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. > WHAT A SHOT. [@jakepaul](https://twitter.com/jakepaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) KOs Woodley in round 6 ?[#PaulWoodley](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaulWoodley?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/oTV3xeNtfg](https://t.co/oTV3xeNtfg) > > — All the Smoke Boxing (@atsboxing) [December 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/atsboxing/status/1472441843849777156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/jake-paul-bizarre-call-out-after-tyson/). Thus far, Paul has fought on eleven occasions and won on ten of those outings, with a [maiden loss coming against Tommy Fury](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/64779968). 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. > WHAT A SHOT. [@jakepaul](https://twitter.com/jakepaul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) KOs Woodley in round 6 ?[#PaulWoodley](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PaulWoodley?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/oTV3xeNtfg](https://t.co/oTV3xeNtfg) > > — All the Smoke Boxing (@atsboxing) [December 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/atsboxing/status/1472441843849777156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/jake-paul-mike-tyson-sparring-partner/) 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. > This photo of Mike Tyson slapping Jake Paul will go in the history books ? [pic.twitter.com/3pNqc9ehf2](https://t.co/3pNqc9ehf2) > > — Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) [November 15, 2024](https://twitter.com/HappyPunch/status/1857231589874307183?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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 SLAPS Jake Paul in the face in their final face-off… > > \[? [@MostVPromotions](https://twitter.com/MostVpromotions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\] [pic.twitter.com/WjDYpjLrxf](https://t.co/WjDYpjLrxf) > > — Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) [November 15, 2024](https://twitter.com/MichaelBensonn/status/1857227841143726084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ![Mike Tyson Points Jake Paul](https://wp.boxing-social.com//app/uploads/2024/11/Screenshot-2024-11-15-at-10.08.46-640x360.png) Tyson has now confirmed this theory to the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2024/11/14/sports/heres-why-mike-tyson-slapped-jake-paul-at-pre-fight-weigh-in/). *“I was in my socks and he had on shoes, he stepped on my toe because he is a f\*\*\*ing a\*\*\*hole. I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate.”* 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](https://wp.boxing-social.com/news/jake-paul-mike-tyson-weight/), Paul scaling 227.2lbs and Tyson weighing-in at 228.4lbs, six pounds lighter than he weighed when fighting Lennox Lewis. **Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by [clicking here](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaXop9lLdQeaeTPH2y2i) and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.**