Mike Tyson is preparing for his return to the ring (Image: Getty)
Jake Paul has received a stern warning in the wind-up to his intense face-off with former heavyweight champion
Their much-anticipated clash was originally set for July but due to Tyson suffering from an inflamed ulcer, leading him to cease training on the advice of his doctor. Yet, Tyson’s camp assures fans he will be fighting fit in time to head to the ring next month.
the hard-hitting showdown is set to erupt at Arlington, Texas’s AT&T Stadium, potentially before a colossal crowd of 90,000 spectators. Mike Tyson hasn’t graced a professional match since his defeat by Kevin McBride in 2005, with his most recent ring appearance being the closed-door exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Meanwhile, YouTuber Paul, aged 27, is basking in the glory of his latest victory over UFC alumnus Mike Perry this past July.
The trash talk is heating up as Tyson’s entourage amps up the mind games. A promotional clip has surfaced wherein a member of Tyson’s squad declares: “We’re not looking to throw just one bomb. We want to throw missile after missile.”
One of the boxing legend’s coaches boldly declared that Paul would find himself in deep trouble if he dared to step into the ring today, saying: “If the fight were today, Jake Paul would be done,” and emphasizing the relentless attack strategy: “He throws missiles, not just one bomb. The bombs, they come one after another.”
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are set to fight in November (Image: Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
Ahead of his upcoming battle in the ring, Tyson has sparked health concerns after he recently confessed: “It’s hard to walk right now. But two months from now I’m going to be perfect. The fight is won in the gym. Listen, I’ll do anything that will help me. I’m going to enjoy my time here tonight with all my childhood friends, and the hell with Jake Paul.”
The buzz within the boxing community is palpable as Tyson unveils training shots before his clash with Paul, inciting a rift among fans. Additionally, eyebrows were raised over the seriousness of his approach following a candid revelation.
In a conversation on Jimmy Kimmel’s show, ‘Iron Mike’ divulged his training schedule: “I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm,” leading to the host’s disbelief. In response to Kimmel’s incredulity, Tyson acknowledged a brief respite, prompting Kimmel to react in surprise: “Oh no.”
Compounding the apprehension is the risk of Tyson facing a boxing ban should he fail a drug test consequent to admission of possible cannabis use pre-fight. Probed by Kimmel whether he’d be high during his face-off with Paul, Tyson’s answer: “I’m going to be so high off life, yeah.”
Led to further query about marijuana use, to which he responded: “That’s a possibility, too.” Kimmel, taken aback, remarked: “Oh no my bet is getting lower as we talk.”
The seriousness of Mike Tyson’s intentions remains a question mark. Yet, should he choose to take cannabis before his upcoming bout with ‘The Problem Child,’ repercussions could be severe.
The Texas Commission, holding strict rules against such substances, may impose significant sanctions.
In a stark warning from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), they stated: “If either combatant were to test positive for a banned substance, we would open a complaint, put them on a 90-day suspension and if the combatant were the winner, the decision would be changed to a no-decision because of a rules violation.”