Deontay Wilder has warned Mike Tyson that he could get “hurt” in his contentious clash with Jake Paul. The upcoming bout between the 27-year-old Paul and the 57-year-old former undisputed heavyweight kingpin has polarized the boxing community since it was announced. Tyson and Paul are set to throw down in the colossal AT&T Stadium in Texas, which boasts an 80,000-seat capacity, on July 20, 2024. This bout will go on their official records as it has been sanctioned by Texan authorities as a professional fight.
Wilder appears unconvinced of the wisdom behind the match as Tyson, who retired from professional boxing in 2004, prepares to step back into the ring. Despite extensive medical examinations to ensure Tyson and Paul can safely enter the ring, Wilder expressed his concerns for Tyson’s well-being.
Speaking with Sportsbook Review, the ex-WBC heavyweight titleholder remarked: “I think it’s bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn’t been active in 20 years, so they should not just licence him because of who he is, that’s how people get hurt, god forbid he gets hurt.”
“People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there’s lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It’s easy to do. He’s too old for this. At the end of the day, no one gives a —- about Mike.”
“We can talk about the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they don’t give a —-. I don’t think anyone cares about Mike because if they did they wouldn’t sanction the fight.”
Meanwhile, Lennox Lewis, who defeated Iron Mike via an eighth-round knockout in a monumental face-off in 2002, finds the prospect of seeing his former adversary return intruiging. Although there’ve been widespread warnings about the potential perils of Tyson’s reentry into boxing, a general consensus amongst people like Lewis is that Tyson will prevail when all is said and done.
In a prior conversation with the Guardian, the UK-born boxer voiced his only real worry was for Paul. His words: “I’m concerned for Jake Paul. Tyson still knows how to punch, as you can see when he’s hitting a bag.”
He continued, “If Jake Paul gets hit by one of those punches, he’s going to feel it. I know Jake Paul doesn’t want to get hit. Tyson comes forward and he knows how to cut off the ring. It could be a matter of time, as how good is Jake Paul’s defence?”
“I saw Mike a couple of weeks ago and he looked good. He was walking around without a shirt and showing off his body so he’s getting ready. I’m looking forward to it because you’ve got to look at these guys as entertainers. The public love them and want to see them in action.”
Oleksandr Usyk, the new undisputed heavyweight champion, also seems frustrated by the clash between Tyson and Paul. The Ukrainian, who recently defeated Tyson Fury to become the first heavyweight to hold all the belts since Lewis, doesn’t seem too impressed with Paul’s boxing efforts.
In a promotional video for his bout against the Gypsy King, Usyk played a word association game where he said the first thing that came to his mind when a boxing name was mentioned. When Paul’s name came up, the 37 year old bluntly said: “Stop boxing”.
Tyson and Paul will be fighting as heavyweights in Texas. The ex-YouTuber has bulked up significantly, transforming his body from 199.8lb when he beat Ryan Bourland to 230lbs.
Paul boasts a boxing record of 9-1, with six of his wins achieved through knockout. On the other hand, Tyson’s record is 50-6, with 44 of his victories being knockouts.
Despite the significant age difference and Paul’s physical transformation, it seems that the biggest names in boxing are favoring Tyson. While many boxing enthusiasts may watch the match with apprehension, it is poised to captivate audiences worldwide, for better or worse.
