Mike Tyson Declares He’s “Just Fine” as He Prepares for Controversial Fight Against Jake Paul
Mike Tyson Declares He's "Just Fine" as He Prepares for Controversial Fight Against Jake Paul
- Mike Tyson has stated he is "just fine" and downplayed concerns about his health
- Tyson described his training camp as challenging but rewarding
- Most Valuable Promotions' Nakisa Bidarian confirmed that this is standard procedure
Mike Tyson has stated he is “just fine” and downplayed concerns about his health ahead of Friday’s controversial bout with Jake Paul, although he is taking extra precautions by asking those around him to wear face masks.
The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion has not fought professionally since 2005, while 27-year-old Paul boasts a record of 10 wins in 11 professional bouts.
The fight, set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas and streamed live on Netflix, has faced criticism from the boxing community due to the significant age difference and the rescheduling of the match after Tyson suffered a stomach ulcer in July.
In a media workout with BBC Sport on Tuesday, Tyson described his training camp as challenging but rewarding. “It’s not fun, but it’s worth it,” he said. “No one is taking it easy on me. They want to see if I quit, but I’m still here. The training is over now; the fight is the party.”
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which has sanctioned the fight as a professional event, assured BBC Sport that it “takes seriously the health and safety of all competitors.” All fighters on the card will undergo medical assessments on Thursday.
Most Valuable Promotions’ Nakisa Bidarian confirmed that this is standard procedure for boxing events in the region and emphasized that the fight will “100%” take place. However, it will follow specific conditions: the match will consist of eight two-minute rounds, and the fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves instead of the standard 10-ounce gloves, which will help reduce the impact of the punches.
