Lennox Lewis, the legendary boxer, has weighed in on the upcoming bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, predicting a clear winner in the highly controversial fight.

The clash between 27-year-old Jake Paul and 57-year-old Mike Tyson has divided the world of combat sports. Many, including former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, have criticized the decision to let Tyson, who hasn’t fought professionally since 2004, step back into the ring. However, Lewis, who famously knocked out Tyson in their 2002 fight, is excited to see his former rival return.

Lewis expressed his concerns for Jake Paul rather than Tyson. “I’m concerned for Jake Paul. Tyson still knows how to punch, as you can see when he’s hitting a bag. If Jake Paul gets hit by one of those punches, he’s going to feel it,” Lewis said in an interview. He emphasized Tyson’s ability to cut off the ring and his enduring power despite his age.

The bout, set to take place on July 20, 2024, at Texas’ 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, has been sanctioned as a professional boxing match by Texan authorities, meaning it will count towards both fighters’ records. This decision has sparked further debate, given Tyson’s long absence from professional fighting.

While numerous tests have been carried out to ensure both fighters are fit to compete, Wilder remains worried about the potential risks for Tyson. He stated, “It’s bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn’t been active in 20 years. People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time. He’s too old for this.”

Supporting Tyson, Carl Froch, another former boxing champion, criticized Jake Paul’s skills. “Jake Paul cannot fight,” Froch said bluntly. “His knockouts were against opponents who didn’t know what they were doing. Mike is going to be absolutely fine.”

Oleksandr Usyk, the current undisputed heavyweight champion, also dismissed Paul’s boxing career, simply stating, “Stop boxing” when asked about Paul.

Despite the controversy and criticism, Tyson and Paul will go head-to-head as heavyweights. Paul, who has transformed his body significantly, now weighs 230lbs, up from 199.8lbs when he fought Ryan Bourland.

With a 9-1 boxing record, six of Paul’s victories have come by knockout. Tyson, on the other hand, boasts a record of 50-6, with 44 of his wins by knockout. As the fight approaches, the boxing community largely favors Tyson, setting the stage for a match that will undoubtedly attract global attention.

Whether this fight will be a memorable sporting event or a spectacle remains to be seen, but it certainly has everyone talking.