The former undisputed heavyweight world champion is scheduled to make a sensational return to the ring next week against the YouTuber-turned-boxer
Former undisputed heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson has claimed money is not a motivating factor in his upcoming clash with Jake Paul.
The 58-year-old is scheduled to make his sensational return to the ring against the young American on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas in front of up to 80,000 fans. The two boxing stars were due to go toe-to-toe back in July, but ‘Iron Mike’ was forced to withdraw from the bout after suffering an ulcer flare up on a flight. Despite concerns for his health, Tyson insists he’s ready to make the walk to the squared-circle next week.
Tyson hasn’t fought a professional contest since suffering a defeat to Kevin McBride back in 2005 while his last win in the ring came in 2003 when he brutally knocked out Clifford Etienne in the first round. He did, however, take on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in 2020, which was predictably scored a draw after eight rounds.
As for ‘The Problem Child’, the young American has taken the sport by storm since making his professional debut back in 2020. Paul comes into the clash off the back of a devastating knockout win over former UFC star Mike Perry back in July. With a professional record of 10-1, his only defeat in the sport came against Tommy Fury last year.
The 58-year-old is adamant that his return to the ring is not for financial reasons however. Tyson’s earnings now come more readily from cannabis than fighting and ‘Iron Mike’ is more interested in the risk available to him by taking on Paul in his return to the ring. “I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis,” he said in September while commentating at a Cage Wars MMA event.
“That’s bulls*** for me. I’m a man; I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk. Sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I’m really made out of. I want to perform in front of the world. To me, that’s all I ever knew how to do since I was 14. This fight is not going to change my life financially enough. This is just what I want to do.”
Tyson has recently admitted that he is still not in perfect health. “It’s hard to walk right now,” he said. “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”.
Since the confirmation of the bout, Paul has faced a lot of criticism. The 27-year-old has dismissed the idea the money is the primary reason for their meeting. “Making history. This is what it’s all about for me, man”, he explained. “I’m a kid from Ohio. […] They’ll never give me credit. That’s the way it is. If I was walking on water, they would say it’s because I couldn’t swim. And this is to make history. The people think I’m going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy”.