Mike Tyson is reportedly making his sparring partners sign Non-Disclosure Agreements to avoid leaks ahead of his fight with Jake Paul.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson, 58, takes on YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul this Friday at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. There is plenty of interest in the match-up between the pair despite their 31-year age difference, with the fight having been postponed earlier this year ahead of its originally scheduled date in July.

‘Iron Mike’ will take to the ring for the first time since his exhibition bout with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr in 2020, which ended in a draw after eight rounds, and his first professional fight since a defeat in 2005. The veteran is using the same group of sparring partners to help him get in shape ahead for the Paul fight.

But despite regularly posting highly edited clips of his training regiment on social media, The Sun reports Tyson’s training partners have been sworn to secrecy, having signed NDAs to ensure the boxing icon’s preparation is kept behind closed doors.

The report claims his sparring partners join him in his personal Las Vegas gym. Among them are heavyweights Mike Russell, who helped train Nate Diaz before his defeat by Paul last year, and Jett Blackwell, who was only a 19-year-old amateur when he sparred Tyson for the Jones bout.

The hushed nature of Tyson’s training camp is not unusual and is perhaps made even more pertinent by the fact one of Paul’s recent sparring partners divulged information about The Problem Child’s training.

Las Vegas-based heavyweight DeAndre Savage, ranked 15th in the world by the WBA, gave Pro Boxing Fans a full interview. He spoke about the ins and outs of sparring with the social media sensation, noting Paul’s strengths and weaknesses while revealing that he was dropped by the 10-1 boxer.

Mike Tyson and Jett Blackwell [R]

Mike Tyson and Jett Blackwell ( 

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Jake Paul's sparring partner DeAndre Savage has been vocal about their training together

Jake Paul’s sparring partner DeAndre Savage has been vocal about their training together ( 

Image:

road_to_riches_sav)

Savage said: “I think people are sleeping on Jake Paul, I was kind of sleeping on him at first but he’s taking it seriously. There were a few sparring partners, I did four [rounds] and then got out.

“It was good sparring. He’s still a little green but Jake has a good jab, and a good right hand too. He’s fast and he’s working on his ins and outs. He’s decent, I like him.

“I hope Mike wins but I don’t think so. I think the age [difference is too much]. It’s just a big payday. I don’t think it’s going to be the fight everyone expects it to be. It’s more for entertainment.”

Voicing his thoughts on him being dropped in leaked footage, he added: “I don’t think it’s fair but I understand the business. I’ve got some clips too of other fighters being almost knocked out, three of them are top ten guys in the heavyweight division.”