Former trainer turned pundit Teddy Atlas has questioned whether the upcoming bout between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson will have an ‘agreed’ outcome before it starts.
This fight between the young YouTuber turned novice boxer Paul and the veteran, long retired and former heavyweight champion of the world has very much split opinion.
Some people think the event, which will surely be huge as the first live sport on Netflix, will bring plenty of eyes to boxing and earn both men a big purse, while some think it is far too dangerous and sets a bad precedent.
Paul has been active over the last few years with wins over Ryan Bourland, Nate Diaz and a controversial loss to Tommy Fury on his record.
Tyson was last out in an exhibition two years ago abasing Roy Jones Jr, and before that took back-to-back defeats in 2005 which led him into retirement having once been the youngest-ever heavyweight champion.
Speaking on his own The FIGHT Podcast, Atlas, who famously trained Tyson early in his career for a while, questions whether the fight will be fixed.
“I’m gunna make your hair stand up again. Unless this is a WWE agreement, which I don’t know if it is, and I’m not questioning the integrity of Paul, he’s been pretty straightforward, but I’m just saying if there was a good time I’m questioning it, it’s now.
“Paul has a good right hand, and he does punch well with it, and Tyson leads with left hooks, maybe Paul thinks he can get in between, I don’t, know, but this is the first time I’ve wondered if there might be an agreement.”
He then wondered why Paul might have taken the fight.
“I don’t know if Paul feels confident or just thinks Tyson is so deteriorated in his life where he can handle it but he better be aware.
“Power doesn’t disappear, even when you’re old, [Tyson’s] still got speed, that style and that teaching he was taught to make you miss and make openings for that power.”
Either way, ‘Iron Mike’ is looking good so far in the videos he has put out.