August 18, 2024
Source: Boxing Scene
Photo Source: Boxing Scene
NEW YORK CITY – The shoves were playful and the bitterness between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul during their press conference in Manhattan on Sunday was restrained.
But Paul’s boast about the amount of money he stands to make to face Tyson, the now 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, raised a few eyebrows and seemed to crystallize the reason their fight is happening on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas: Because of the enormous profits that will be generated.
Paul-Tyson will be streamed live on Netflix in the network’s first foray into live professional boxing. With Netflix’s global reach and Paul-Tyson’s availability on the network instead of an additional paywall, organizers are hyping the event as possibly the most-watched boxing match ever.
Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) wasn’t coy about what he stands to earn on Nov. 15.
“I’m here to make $40 million and knock out a legend,” Paul said minutes into the presser as Tyson looked on impassively. “He’s going to get his ass knocked out. You’re going to see on BoxRec that I KO’d Mike Tyson. I’m not here to do shit besides make a bag.”
The comments were met by boos. The pro-Tyson crowd whooped it up moments later when Tyson, in perhaps the day’s most revealing comment, perfectly summed up the reality of why he was plucked from retirement to face someone who is 31 years younger. (Paul is 27.)
“Who else is he going to fight to make this happen?” Tyson said as he pointed to a packed theater filled with boisterous fans at the Javits Center in Manhattan during the final day of Fanatics Fest NYC. “We have a YouTuber fighting the greatest fighter that ever lived.”
The decision to select Tyson as Paul’s next opponent is a case of inspired (albeit controversial) matchmaking and is a nod to Paul’s ability to create events that capture the public’s attention.
With pressure on Paul to reinvigorate his boxing career after facing a slew of former MMA fighters and losing to Tommy Fury in 2023, he convinced Tyson (56-6, 44 KOs) to step into the ring with him.
Paul pushed back on the idea that he needed Tyson to make his next fight a big event.
Tyson showed his enormous starpower in July 2020 when he fought an entertaining eight-round exhibition against fellow Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. that surpassed expectations and was a box-office success. Paul fought on the undercard.
“I brought the deal to this old-ass motherfucker,” Paul said of Tyson. “We signed the contract with Netflix, and I brought him the deal. So you’re welcome, my son. I’m going to discipline you like a son, so shut the fuck up with this ‘need this’ and ‘need that.’ We brought you this deal – and remember that.”
The fight’s original date of July 20 was rescheduled after Tyson required medical attention when he suffered an ulcer flare-up on a May 26 flight from Miami to Los Angeles. Tyson’s doctors reportedly advised Tyson to curtail his training until he was on the mend. Tyson turned 58 on June 30 and hasn’t fought since he was stopped by Kevin McBride in 2005.
Tyson addressed his health briefly at the start of the presser.
“It’s happening. We’re all here,” Tyson told the former NFL player turned media personality Ryan Clark, who hosted Sunday’s event. “I had a small adversity and I was sick. But I’m better. I feel good.”
Later Tyson admitted that he’s been in camp for the past few weeks. “I’m beautiful. I’m OK to fight.”
While the match between Paul and Tyson is sanctioned as a pro heavyweight bout, it will take place over eight two-minute rounds instead of the standard three-minute rounds and will be fought with 14-ounce gloves instead of the 10-ounce gloves normally worn by heavyweights.
Paul poked fun at the fight being skewed to protect the participant’s health.
“You’re the one who wanted eight two-minute rounds. Want to make it 10 threes?” Paul asked. “Don’t talk to me about being in shape. You want 10 threes?”
“Be careful,” Tyson warned with a smile. “I’m going to fuck him up.”
But he couldn’t even threaten Paul with a straight face and broke into a grin.
It was somewhat jarring to see Tyson so relaxed and playful during the press conference as Paul did his best to play the heel, welcoming the boos from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Tyson pleaded at one point for the onlookers to behave themselves after a spectator hurled an epithet at Paul.
“Guys, let’s try to be respectful here, please,” he pleaded.
Anyone who followed Tyson’s meteoric rise and downfall can likely recount his vile outbursts at press conferences from memory. Today, Tyson exists as an elder statesman, a mostly affable entertainer who seemed genuinely amused by the proceedings on Sunday.
“He amazes me,” Tyson said of Paul before he playfully faced off with his opponent, exchanging shoves that looked more like love taps than anything mean-spirited.
“I love you,” Tyson said to Paul toward the end of the press conference.
No doubt the two will soon be laughing all the way to the bank.
Comments