To the delight of boxing purists eagerly awaiting the first-ever Netflix-streamed event involving former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and social media star turned boxer Jake Paul, their 8-round clash was officially announced as a sanctioned heavyweight contest this week.
Before the announcement, a definitive winner wouldn’t have been declared without a knockout or TKO result, and the outcome wouldn’t affect either fighter’s professional record. So, naturally, the intrigue of Paul vs. Tyson has now ignited even more interest as we patiently await the July 20th showdown in Texas.
Preparations from both pugilists will have undoubtedly stepped up since Texas authorities have sanctioned the bout, so join us today as we dive deeper into the fight camps of Paul and Tyson before heading to the top-rated sportsbooks.
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Friday, November 15, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at AT&T Stadium
Tyson Trains Every Day in Preparation for Jake Paul
The last time Mike Tyson stepped into the squared circle for an official boxing bout, YouTube was founded, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and gas prices were under $2 per gallon. However, while 2005 was nearly two decades ago, not much has changed regarding the former heavyweight champs’ dedication to training.
Given the inexperience and lack of high-level opponents, many worried that Tyson may not treat Paul as a serious opponent. This, however, hasn’t been reflected thus far. In fact, Tyson has supported Paul and his accomplishments, and in part, the level of seriousness in his fight camp thus far has revealed how he isn’t overlooking his youthful foe.
The Heavyweight’s Hustle
Tyson discussed his training regime during an interview with Fox News. Despite the controversies surrounding his age, health, and inactivity, he insisted that he’s trained every day since the fight announcement.
“I don’t think he’s faster than me,” Tyson commented. “I train every day; I’m taking it seriously. It’s a whole day [of training]; the process takes a whole day. I get up in the morning and do the roadwork, then I go to the gym at one, and then I go to the strength and conditioning guy, and then it starts all over again.”
Paul has acted a fool on the internet for many years; he’s also a former Disney Channel star. As a result, most of his in-ring opponents haven’t taken him seriously, but Tyson isn’t falling into this trap.
“I’ve seen a YouTube video of him at 16 doing weird dancing. That’s not the guy I’m fighting. This guy is going to try and hurt me, which I’m accustomed to, and he will be greatly mistaken,” Tyson added.
No Weed and Sex for ‘Iron Mike’
The 30-year age gap between Tyson and Paul has sparked health concerns for the beloved boxing legend. However, you can’t knock the discipline he’s instilled ahead of the bout.
Tyson has said that, throughout his training camp, he has abstained from both smoking and engaging in sexual activity for a period of six weeks. This commitment is part of his efforts to achieve optimal physical condition before returning to the boxing arena.
Six weeks is a long time. If he keeps this up for another 8-10 weeks before the fight, can you imagine how much anger this man will bring into the ring? Jake Paul recently posted on X: ‘I’m scared’. Honestly, a version of Tyson that hasn’t smoked or had sex for four months, yeah… I’d be scared, too.
Not to mention, have you seen this “old man” hit the pads?
Don’t Compare Paul’s Training Footage
There have been few revelations or noteworthy insights regarding Paul’s preparations and training camp. Compared to the videos released by Tyson, the build-up has been generally quiet.
Do not let this fool you.
As professionals, athletes don’t share the good stuff; they always keep their cards close to the chest. You don’t play a game of chess and reveal your next move to the opponent. So, whatever is shared on the internet shouldn’t be utilized as a base to generate a prediction on the outcome of the fight.
Paul and his camp have kept tight-lipped about their training, which shouldn’t surprise anyone. While Tyson is the oldest opponent he’s faced, he undeniably poses the most danger. In addition, Paul has been training consistently for five years. Tyson has some catching up to do in terms of conditioning.
Interestingly, Paul’s camp edited the one piece of training footage alongside Tyson’s footage, and there’s no comparison.
That said, and as previously mentioned, take this with a pinch of salt, as you never know what ‘The Problem Child’ has up his sleeve. There is a reason why the top-rated sportsbooks have Paul as a -200 favorite in the boxing odds.
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