'Age doesn't matter': Mike Tyson, Jake Paul talk about expertise vs. youth dynamic of boxing match

Maybe nothing might underscore the age distinction between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul greater than these two information: When 20-year-old Tyson grew to become the youngest heavyweight boxing champion in 1986, Paul wasn’t even a thought in his dad and mom’ minds. And eleven years later, when Tyson infamously bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear throughout their rematch in 1997, Paul was nonetheless in diapers.

Now within the 12 months 2024, Paul, 27, is by some means set to satisfy Tyson in a Netflix live-streamed boxing match scheduled for eight two-minute rounds July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. By the point the opening bell rings, Tyson might be 58, having final competed in a 2020 exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. that resulted in a draw.

There are pure questions on age and skill surrounding Tyson (50-6) vs. Paul (9-1), with skeptics questioning if Tyson is just too outdated to nonetheless compete. His response?

“I believe the those that mentioned that want they had been up right here,” Tyson mentioned throughout Monday’s information convention in New York. “As a result of nobody else can do it. Who else can do that? Who else can shut the sporting world down? Nobody else can do it. You’ve acquired the each of us, and we’re gonna do that.”

And what about Paul? Sure, he clearly has youth on his aspect, however that additionally means Tyson is far more skilled in comparison with Paul, who’s boxed for slightly greater than 4 years in opposition to principally MMA fighters and low-level boxers.

What are the probabilities Paul will get clocked by Tyson, who’s proven in coaching movies to nonetheless possess knockout energy, even at his age.

“Lots of people are doubting me,” Paul mentioned. “I am going onto the Instagram feedback and I see all of them saying, ‘If Jake wins this combat, it’s rigged’ due to how unbelievable he appears. Age doesn’t matter. Age is only a quantity. He’s a killer, he’s a warrior, he’s been doing this his entire, whole life, so it’s second nature to him. I’ve been doing this for 4 years, and I’ve been doing it at a brilliant excessive degree.

“On July twentieth, I’m gonna present the world that I can outbox Mike Tyson and show everybody flawed and present everybody that I would be the one doing the killing.”

As evidenced by their playful first faceoff following Monday’s information convention, Tyson and Paul have an amicable relationship. Tyson, nevertheless, mentioned that goes by the wayside as soon as combat night time arrives.

“We’re associates,” Tyson mentioned. “There’s little doubt we’re associates, however in that ring we’re not gonna be associates. That’s simply what it’s.”