Boxing legend Mike Tyson made it clear on social media his upcoming fight with Jake Paul “isn’t scripted as some haters in boxing community want you to believe.”

The former heavyweight champion said he has every intention of knocking Paul out.

Fans have long speculated and theorized, with no available evidence, that some of Paul’s fights haven’t exactly been on the up and up. He paid his opponents to take a dive in order to inflate his in-ring résumé.

UFC star Colby Covington amplified the rumor during his appearance on The Rush With Maxx Crosby, the podcast hosted by the Las Vegas Raiders defensive end. He claimed he had heard Tyron Woodley got paid $5 million for the purpose of losing against Paul. Woodley and his camp denied that broad idea in the aftermath of his knockout loss in December 2021.

ESPN’s Andreas Hale noted in April the difference in age between Tyson, 58 in June, and Paul, 27, will be the biggest ever in a professional boxing match. Because of that, Tyson is arguably the underdog despite having a clear edge in experience.

Based on how he looks in training, however, some are preemptively declaring that a victory for Paul is all the proof necessary to show the outcome was arranged well in advance.

That was perhaps the pitfall for Paul in lining up an event that, while guaranteed to garner plenty of attention, probably won’t do much to boost his boxing credentials.

No matter how much he and Tyson say otherwise and regardless of this being officially sanctioned, a segment of fans have preconceived notions about the legitimacy of the fight that will be tough to fully shake.