Mike Tyson has revealed that his popularity is the driving force behind his decision to face off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
It’s been almost 20 years since the former undisputed heavyweight world champion last stepped into the ring; a night in 2005 when he was defeated by Kevin McBride. Following the match, ‘Iron Mike‘ announced his retirement and gave an emotional post-fight interview – a clip that has recently resurfaced online in anticipation of his bout with ‘The Problem Child’.
Although Tyson did return to the ring four years ago for an exhibition match with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr, many have expressed concern for Tyson’s health in the lead up to his fight with Paul – who is 31 years his junior. These worries were amplified when the 58 year old was forced to withdraw from the original contest due to an ulcer flare up.
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He was instructed by his doctors to cease training, but has since made a comeback to the gym. Both Paul and Tyson are set to face off on November 15 at the ATandT Arena in Arlington, Texas. ‘The Problem Child’ enters the match following a knockout victory over Mike Perry in July.
With a record of 10-1, Paul’s only loss in the sport was to Tommy Fury last year. The event is set to be streamed live on the popular platform, Netflix, with millions of viewers anticipated globally. The epic face-off between the two is expected to draw in over 80,000 fans.
Tyson’s contribution to these ticket sales is a key reason for his bout with the 27 year old. In a recent chat with talkSPORT, when questioned about his decision to fight now, ‘Iron Mike’ responded: “58. I’m going to fight in the biggest arena ever and it’s going to be sold out, and who else can do that”?
Mike Tyson is adamant he isn’t just taking the Jake Paul fight for a payday (
YouTube)
When asked about the significance of selling out such a large stadium in the States, he said: “It makes me feel like I have to perform. They’re giving me all that inspiration and letting me know that ‘boy, you’ve got to perform tonight’. It’s time to perform”
.In the same conversation, the 58 year old addressed concerns about his health given the imminent fight. “Everything is sorted out”, he assured. “I had an ulcer problem. I was eating bad food”. When asked if he’ll be ready for November 15, ‘Iron Mike’ simply replied: “Thank god”.
His remarks followed a discussion with Mail Online, where Tyson confessed his diet was responsible for his past health problems. “I was doing too much bad food and stuff, and I got sick,” he admitted. However, he has since stated he’s avoiding ‘processed foods’ and is ‘eating clean’ in preparation for his match against the young American.
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