Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight: Tyson admits the role of villain

Asked about the friendship earlier this week, Tyson said: “There is no sense of attachment.” He proved it by beating Paul when they faced each other after the weigh-ins on Thursday night.

Tyson seemed to take offense at the way Paul addressed him, but didn’t bother to explain. “Talk is over,” said Tyson, who checked in at 228 pounds, when one of the hosts tried to ask a question.

“Now it’s personal,” Paul screamed into a microphone before storming off the stage. Paul weighed 227 pounds.

Tyson was 50-6 with 44 knockouts when he retired after losing to Kevin McBride in 2005, saying he had nothing left to give the sport. He last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. without fans during the 2020 pandemic.

A fight originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed when Tyson had to be treated for a stomach ulcer after falling ill on a flight.

Tyson said in a documentary detailing the preparations for the fight that he lost 26 pounds in the process of recovery.

Promoter Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul, said Tyson was medically cleared weeks ago. Bidarian dodged a question about how worried he was about Tyson’s health when he steps into the ring.

“I’m nervous about both men,” Bidarian said. “The reality is that Jake has never been hit by someone like Mike Tyson red on the chin. And Mike hasn’t fought someone like Jake in a very long time. That’s what makes this interesting.”

Paul said he had a vision for the fight about two years ago and shared it with Tyson because he thought the Hall of Famer would understand — and be interested. It took about that long for the game to come together.

Tyson appeared excited at both hype events with fans in the Dallas area, first in the weeks before the originally scheduled fight and again at a news conference two nights before the fight.

He was more reflective in a smaller environment of reporters, suggesting he was not the same foul-mouthed, scowling fighter of his prime.

“I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” Tyson said. “I’ve been in rehab. I’ve been in jail, locked up. Never in a million years did I think I’d be doing this.”

According to reports, Paul will get $40 million for the fight, a figure he mentioned at another press conference in New York in August.

Tyson, who served two stints in prison for convictions in the 1990s for rape and assault and declared bankruptcy 21 years ago, will get $20 million. Tyson has said he doesn’t fight for the money.

“The old Mike Tyson … he has no more purpose in my life. He just doesn’t exist,” Tyson said. “I feel good about my life. I don’t have much time left, so I’m having the best time of my life.”

Several states would not sanction the match. Texas agreed to a match that was eight rounds instead of 10 or 12with two-minute rounds instead of three, and heavier gloves designed to reduce the force of punches.

Paul has faced persistent questions about why he would fight someone so much older, regardless of Tyson’s pedigree. His answers have been consistent.

“I say talk to Mike and tell Mike,” Paul said. “He was the one who wanted it to be a pro fight and I, as a young person in this sport, will not (pass up) the opportunity to fight the GED of boxing. It’s like Ja Morant turning down a 1-v-1 against LeBron. It’s not going to happen.”

There is a high profile championship match on the card – co-main event Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano.

Paul said he wanted to give the women a spotlight after their slugfest at sold-out Madison Square Garden in 2022. It was the first time women headlined a boxing event at the famous venue.

Taylor won a split decision as many asked. Bidarian and Paul say the rematch for the undisputed super lightweight title will be the most lucrative women’s sporting event in history.

“A lot of people said the real main event is Taylor-Serrano,” Bidarian said. “I’m fine if you feel that way. Jake has said he’s more excited about that fight than his own fight. But we wanted to make sure the most eyes got to see that fight. To be completely honest with ourselves Paul-Tyson draws a bigger audience.”

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