JAKE PAUL’S team have hit back at Eddie Hearn following criticism of the Mike Tyson fight.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul faces heavyweight great Tyson on November 15 in a clash that has attracted controversy over the massive age gap.
And promoter Hearn has been among the most critical of the bout.
But Paul’s business partner and co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions Nakisa Bidarian was quick to fire back at Hearn.
Bidarian said: “Keep getting sent these articles on Eddie Hearn taking shots at Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson.
“How, if you’re involved you have no empathy for the sport, how he’d never be involved in a million years. Eddie, you’re involved, man. Involved in a big way.
“Katie Taylor, your most celebrated fighter, is the co-main event and it’s her biggest payday as you know.
“So, thank you to Netflix, thank you to MVP and most of all, thank you to Jake Paul for getting it down for you, man.
“It’s funny. I remember when Francis Ngannou was fighting Tyson Fury, you were out there saying, ‘This is a circus. This is a clown show. This shouldn’t be happening.’
“But as soon as the opportunity came for you to be involved with Anthony Joshua versus Francis Ngannou, you were running so fast to sign that contract and make a talk about, ‘Oh, this is a real fight. Oh, it’s such a big deal.'”
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Hearn responded online: “There’s a bit of a big difference. Francis was an active UFC fighter who basically beat (IMO) Tyson Fury.
“That win gave him all the credibility he needed. Mike is in his 50’s and 20 years ago he was shot as a fighter.”
Paul is 10-1 with only a 2023 points defeat to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, 25, blemishing his record.
Tyson retired in 2005 off the back of two dismal defeats and years of trouble outside the ring.
But by 2020, he was reformed and returned for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr – which was nothing more than a glorified sparring session.
That will not be the case – so we’re told – this time around as he prepares to fight Paul in a professionally sanctioned bout.
I understand that this freak show may well do good numbers. But, I think if you genuinely care about the sport and the history of the sport and particularly the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time, it’s not something you’d ever consider.
Eddie Hearn on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson
Both will be subjected to drug testing while Tyson must take additional brain and heart exams due to his age.
But outrage was sparked when Tyson was forced to pull out of the initial July 20 date amid an ulcer flare-up in his stomach.
But organisers – including streaming platform Netflix – were quick to reschedule the bout.
Hearn has been critical, telling SunSport: “I don’t think there’s one boxing person that really wants this fight to happen.
I understand that this freak show may well do good numbers.
“But, I think if you genuinely care about the sport and the history of the sport and particularly the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time, it’s not something you’d ever consider.
“But, I understand their strategy and the business and if it does numbers, they don’t really care how it looks in terms of the empathy of it.
“I don’t think it’s ever something you’d see a real boxing person get involved with.”
