Mike Tyson has confirmed that he is “prepared” for his highly anticipated fight against YouTuber Jake Paul on 15 November, after the original date had to be postponed due to health issues. The two were initially scheduled to face off on 20 July, but Tyson’s ulcer flare-up forced the match to be rescheduled.
The bout, set to take place at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Texas, will be a professional fight with specific conditions. Tyson, now 58, hasn’t fought professionally since 2005 but is confident about his return to the ring. “I had a small adversity. I got sick, but I feel good. I’m just ready,” Tyson stated during a joint news conference on Sunday.
Tyson, who last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, didn’t hold back when discussing his approach to the fight: “As soon as I catch this guy it’s going to be totally over, he is going to run. He is going to run like a thief.”
Despite being 31 years younger than Tyson, Paul boasts a 10-1 record in his boxing career. However, Tyson remains unfazed and is motivated by the unique challenge: “Because I can. Who else can do it but me? We have a YouTuber fighting the greatest fighter ever to live.”
Paul, while expressing respect for Tyson, made it clear that the friendship is on hold until after the fight: “I love Mike and I respect him but we are not friends any more until 15 November.”
The fight will feature eight two-minute rounds, with both fighters wearing 14oz gloves instead of the usual 10oz.
