Jake Paul has faith in Mike Tyson making it to their rescheduled date.
Paul is slated to meet the boxing Hall of Famer and former heavyweight champion in a blockbuster boxing match on November 15, which airs live on Netflix. Paul, 27, and Tyson, 58, were originally expected to fight on July 20, however Tyson withdrew from the bout in May after suffering health complications related to an ulcer flare-up. Once Tyson was out, Paul instead fought and defeated BKFC star Mike Perry on that same summer date.
Tyson’s withdrawal only invited more criticism from those who continue to argue that his age makes the fight an irresponsible booking, but both fighters have since reaffirmed their pledge to fulfill their original commitments. And speaking with TMZ on Monday, Paul noted that he was so confident in Tyson’s health, there isn’t even a Plan B in place for November.
“I don’t have concern. He’s doing great,” Paul said of Tyson.
“He’s super healthy behind-the-scenes and feeling great, so that’s what we’re focused on, and there’s not a back-up [opponent] currently.”
Paul and Tyson are expected to meet in a professional heavyweight bout contested across eight two-minute rounds at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.
Paul is 10-1 as a pro boxer since debuting in 2020 and has defeated a variety of MMA veterans, including wins over Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley (x2), Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. He knocked out Perry with a sixth-round barrage in his July outing.
Tyson has not competed professionally since losing a 2005 match against Kevin McBride. His most recent in-ring appearance came in an eight-round exhibition against fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. in late 2020, which ended in a split draw.
Paul is a heavy betting favorite to defeat Tyson, largely due to the vast age gap between the two fighters, but he still knows the inherent dangerous he signed up for when he agreed to face one of the most fearsome punchers to ever lace up a pair of boxing gloves.
“Mike is big and beefy, and thick and strong, and yeah, Francis [Ngannou] actually said that he thinks Mike is going to knock me out, which is funny,” Paul said. “But I do have to be careful in the early rounds, because Mike has that crazy, crazy punching power.”
