Mike Tyson is back in training after an ulcer flare-up postponed his highly anticipated match against former YouTuber Jake Paul.
Tyson, now 58, is feeling more confident than ever as he prepares for his return to the ring.
In an interview with Esquire magazine on July 15, Tyson didn’t hold back on his expectations for the fight against the 27-year-old Paul. “Can I be honest? I don’t think he can hurt me,” Tyson stated boldly.
As he gears up for his first officially sanctioned boxing match in nearly two decades, Tyson is fully aware of the high stakes involved for himself, his legacy, and his fans. Embracing the challenge, he told the magazine, “I don’t think this was meant to be done by any man but me, I love it.”
Tyson addressed critics who question why he would choose to fight a social media personality when he is one of the greatest boxers in history. “I’m a glory junkie. I love people thinking about me all day,” he explained. “I’d rather live a short life of glory than a long life of obscurity. It’s just who I am.”
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Fans eagerly anticipating Tyson’s return are matched by his own excitement. “I’m fifty-eight years old, and I’m gonna sell out an eighty-thousand-seat arena. Hey, if that’s not godlike, I don’t know what is,” he said.
The fight, originally scheduled for July 20, was postponed after Tyson experienced an ulcer flare-up in late May. On Friday, June 7, promotion company Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that the bout had been rescheduled. The new date is set for November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Although we had to postpone the fight, I will resume training shortly,” Tyson said in a release shared by MVP. He added, “I am thankful to the medical staff that treated me and to MVP, Netflix, and AT&T Stadium for working diligently to find the best reschedule date for all parties. While we have a new date, the result will be the same no matter when we fight. Jake Paul is getting knocked out. On Friday, November 15, watch this in-person at AT&T Stadium or live on Netflix.”
As Tyson continues his rigorous training regimen, fans and critics alike are eagerly awaiting the showdown between the legendary boxer and the brash social media star. This bout promises to be a spectacle, combining the nostalgia of Tyson’s glory days with the modern flair of Paul’s internet fame.
