The upcoming boxing match between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul has been labeled a “freak show” by UFC star Paddy Pimblett.

Tyson, at 58, is coming out of retirement to face off against social media sensation Paul, who is 30 years his junior. Tyson hasn’t fought since he retired mid-match after five rounds against Kevin McBride in 2005, although he did step into the ring with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr in 2020, resulting in a draw.

Paul, on the other hand, has built up a record of 10-1 since his debut in 2020, primarily fighting former MMA stars like Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva, and Nate Diaz. Most recently, he took down bare-knuckle fighter Mike Perry, who had stepped in to replace Tyson when he withdrew from his original July date with Paul.

The Dallas showdown, scheduled for next month, has drawn heavy criticism due to concerns over Tyson’s health. UFC star Pimblett has joined the chorus of critics, telling OLBG: ” Mike Tyson is a unit but this fight with Jake Paul is ridiculous.

“He was still an absolute unit when I met him anyway, and he wasn’t in shape then. He’s still an absolute brick s—house. He’s just built like that. Now he’s in shape but he shouldn’t be fighting at 58, it’s just ridiculous. It’s just stupid.

“He definitely doesn’t need to either. He’s got the money to not fight, so I just don’t understand why they’re doing it. I’ve chatted a lot of s— about Jake Paul because he never used to be able to throw a punch, but now that he’s actually trained for a few years, he can throw a punch.

UFC star Paddy Pimblett ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

“His boxing doesn’t actually look that bad. But a few years ago when he started and people were saying to me ‘you fight Jake Paul’, I was like, ‘lad, he’s f—— s—.”

“But now he’s trained for that long and put that much work in, you’ve got to give him his due. He doesn’t look that bad. Like he outboxed Mike Perry even though he had like 40lbs on him. But it’s Tyson, whether he’s 58 or not, it’s Mike Tyson.

“I don’t even know [what happens] that’s just like a freak show fight, I wouldn’t even put a prediction on that. I hope Mike Tyson knocks him out. As we’ve just said, he’s 58 years of age, and he hasn’t fought in about 15 years as well.”

A duel between icons is set to unfold with YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul taking on the legendary Mike Tyson in a spectacle slated for an epic face-off at Dallas’s AT&T Stadium. Up to 80,000 fans will witness the eight two-minute rounds where the usual norms are flippedno headguards, knockouts allowed, and heavier 14oz gloves rather than the conventional lighter ones of pro boxing.