Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul bout labeled ‘huge shame’ by Eddie Hearn; promises to SKIP the fight

I think it’s a huge shame that one of the biggest legends of the sport comes back 20 years after everybody knew he shouldn’t be boxing anymore.

Eddie Hearn via TalkSPORT

Tyson’s last professional fight was in 2005. He made a brief return in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. However, this upcoming bout will be a full-scale professional contest. Hearn stated that it disrespects the sport to let someone of Tyson’s age engage in such a high-stakes fight.

Hearn emphasized the potential for severe injury. If Tyson were to be hurt, Hearn argues the responsibility would lie with the organizers. He made it clear that while he will stay to support Taylor and Serrano’s co-main event, he will not stick around for the Paul-Tyson fight. The fight between Tyson and Paul is set to take place this November at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. 

Jake Paul reveals backup fighter for Mike Tyson showdown

Jake Paul recently addressed the possibility of a replacement opponent for his upcoming fight with Mike Tyson. This fight, initially supposed to take place in July, was rescheduled to November. Tyson was forced to postpone his fight against Paul due to an ulcer flare-up, which occurred while he was traveling from Los Angeles to Miami. 

Initially, Tyson hoped he could still compete on the original date. However, his medical team advised him to ease his training temporarily to focus on recovery. Regardless, Paul remains optimistic about facing Tyson as planned and stated that no backup opponent is currently being considered.

It’s Mike Tyson or nothing. But first and foremost, he’s healthy and feeling amazing and doing great in camp.

Jake Paul via TMZ

This fight will be Netflix’s first foray into combat sports. Paul is expected to earn approximately $40 million from his fight with Tyson. With millions of dollars on the line, the YouTuber-turned-boxer previously teased an additional $5 million if the boxing legend could last beyond the fourth round.