A former heavyweight world champion has issued a severe warning to ‘The Problem Child’ ahead of his clash with ‘Iron Mike’ in Texas next month
Legendary heavyweight boxer Larry Holmes believes Mike Tyson has the ability to “embarrass” Jake Paul when the pair finally to go head-to-head next month.
The two boxing stars were supposed to face each other back in July, but Tyson was forced to pull out after suffering an ulcer flare up. The 58-year-old was told to stop training, but has since returned to the gym and has reassured fans that he will be ready to fight in November.
Both men will now go toe-to-toe on November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas. The clash will be recognised as a professional contest and will take place at heavyweight. Since confirmation of the bout, many have feared for Tyson’s health due to the fact that he’ll be 58 by the time he steps foot inside the ring.
However, one man who doesn’t appear to be concerned at all is the former IBF and WBC heavyweight champion, Holmes. ‘The Easton Assassin’ knows exactly what it feels like to be punched square in the face by ‘Iron Mike’. He famously fought Tyson back in 1988, and it’s fair to say that it didn’t go well for Holmes.
Despite putting up a bit of a fight early on, Tyson went on to knock the heavyweight icon out in the fourth round. Holmes revealed that he was left embarrassed after the contest and believes the same could happen to Paul next month. Speaking to OLBG, the 74-year-old said: “Tyson ducks, moves his head, and gets in close. He’ll take a punch or two to get in close, and then once he’s up close he’ll go to work on the body, and then that head.
“Mike knocked the s*** out of me, he hit me so hard I went ‘wooooo’. And he beat me. It was embarrassing. I remember the right hand he hit me with – I thought at the time ‘he should be locked up’ because of the power, and he kept on coming, growling like Joe Frazier. That’s the fight I’m expecting Mike to put on. Jake has to survive that.”
In the same interview, Holmes issued another warning to ‘The Problem Child”, saying: “I watched a clip of Mike Tyson this morning and all I can say is Jake better be ready if he’s going to fight Mike. Mike will be able to last the two minute rounds. Mike comes to fight when he puts his mind to it, he goes to work on you. And that’s what I’ve seen today. And if this guy tries to trade punches with Mike, he loses.”
He added: “Mike is a puncher. I fought Mike and he hit me and that was the end of it. Earnie Shavers was one of the hardest punchers there’s ever been and Mike is right up there with him at the top. Earnie Shavers was the hardest I’ve ever faced but when Tyson hits, he tries to kill you. And Mike can take a good punch, I hit him a couple of times and he kept on coming. Jake will hit him, but Mike is going to keep on coming. He better be ready for Mike to keep coming forward with punches.
Tyson’s last professional fight came back in 2005, when he lost to Kevin McBride. However, he did step foot in the ring Roy Jones Jr four years ago in an exhibition bout. As for Paul, the 27-year-old comes into the clash off the back of a win against Mike Perry back in July.
