Jake Paul is looking to raise the stakes for his highly anticipated fight against boxing legend Mike Tyson, offering an extra $5 million to sweeten the deal. The pair are set to face off in the ring on November 15 in a fight that will be streamed on Netflix. Originally scheduled for July, the fight was postponed after Tyson experienced a health scare during a flight, but now both fighters are gearing up for the rescheduled bout.
In a playful yet bold move, Paul took to TikTok this week to issue a new challenge to the 58-year-old boxing icon. “Mikey Mikey, if you can last more than four rounds with me, I’ll give you an extra $5 million,” Paul said, upping the ante ahead of the fight. However, there’s a catch: “But if you don’t, then you have to get a tattoo that says, ‘I love Jake Paul.'”
The challenge comes as part of Paul’s ongoing campaign to promote the fight, during which he’s been donning a fat suit in several of his promotional videos, poking fun at himself and bringing a sense of humor to the build-up. Tyson, known for his intensity and serious approach to combat, has yet to publicly respond to Paul’s latest challenge.
Despite the playful banter from Paul, Tyson has sounded confident in previous interviews about his ability to handle the younger fighter. In an interview with Esquire in July, Tyson downplayed Paul’s threat, stating, “I don’t think he [Paul] can hurt me.” Tyson, who has a storied career as one of the most feared boxers in history, remains determined to maintain his legacy. “This is all I started fighting for: to get all this f–king status. I’m going to be chasing it for the rest of my life, I know that. I’m never going to get what I want, because I’m one of those gluttons for pain. I can never get enough,” he added.
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For Jake Paul, known as much for his social media antics as for his boxing skills, the fight represents a major risk but also a chance to further cement his standing in the sport. In an interview with The New York Post in June, Paul explained why he was eager to step into the ring with someone as formidable as Tyson.
“I just want to take a risk,” Paul said. “I think I am crazy for this; I definitely am, because I don’t think anyone would take the risk in this position, but that’s just what makes me different. I’m not slowing down for anyone, and I want to stay active in the gym.”
Paul acknowledged Tyson’s lethal knockout power and his decades of experience, fully aware of the challenge that lies ahead. “He’s Mike Tyson at the end of the day. He has lethal knockout power and is very, very experienced. I think it is going to be a brawl regardless.”
The November fight is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing matchups in recent boxing history, pitting a YouTuber-turned-fighter in Jake Paul against one of the most iconic figures in the sport.
While Paul’s taunts and financial incentives have added a playful layer to the promotion, Tyson’s past suggests that the former heavyweight champion will take this fight as seriously as any other.
With millions of dollars on the line and the potential for an unexpected twist in the form of a tattoo wager, the upcoming fight is sure to attract massive attention. Whether Tyson accepts Paul’s challenge or not, fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a unique showdown between two very different eras of boxing.
