Mike Tyson is fast approaching his controversial fight with Jake Paul and in the launch press conference, he has made a rather shocking claim.
Tyson hasn’t fought competitively for the best part of two decades. He is now fast approaching 60 and the last twice he stepped into the ring just after the turn of the millennium he lost.
He has since had an exhibition with Roy Jones Jnr in 2022 but has also been seen walking with a stick due to back problems in recent times.
For all those reasons, his fight with YouTuber turned-boxer Paul has generated plenty of talk and consternation. Paul is still in his twenties and is an active fighter who is coming off a first-round knock-out win in his last fight and has only lost to Tommy Fury.
The fish has been rather surprisingly sanctioned as a fully professional fight with no head guards and 10oz gloves which has only added to the concern for many onlookers.
Speaking at a press conference captured by Netflix, he was asked about what he thinks to people who say he is too old to be fighting and shockingly admitted that his body is not in a great place.
“Well, I’m beautiful. That’s all I can say. I’m doing great, but my body is sh** right now, my body is sore.”
Paul was then asked how hard it was to make the fight happen.
“He was game. He’s always wanted to do this. This has been a long time coming. We’ve been calling each other out for years and always wanted it to happen and we finally have it on Netflix.
“Things keep getting bigger and better and the co-main is quite literally history right here. Mike wanted this, Mike wanted it to be a pro-fight, he wants the war, and so I respect that.
“I respect him for stepping up and for him trying to put an end to me cause that’s what all these fighters want to do, put an end to the YouTuber. And if he can do that then he’s a hero.”
Tyson was asked if that’s indeed his aim.
“No, I like Jake a lot but he has to get in the ring and fight like his life depends on it ’cause it will.”
Finally, Paul admitted he knows a lot of people want to see him lose while Deontay Wilder recently revealed his own concern.
“I truly believe a lot of people see me as an arrogant asshole which I can be but I’m just having fun and entertaining the world. The older generation wants to see Mike knock me out.”
The co-main is a huge rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano following their first fight at Madison Square Garden in front of 20, 000 people which saw Taylor take the win.
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