Jake Paul reveals ‘numb’ reaction to Mike Tyson pulling out of boxing fight
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Jake Paul expressed that he felt a sense of “numbness” when Mike Tyson backed out of their fight earlier this year, prior to the event being rescheduled.
YouTube sensation Paul has achieved a professional boxing record of 10 wins and 1 loss in recent years. His upcoming fight will be against Tyson, who is regarded as one of the best heavyweight champions in the history of boxing.
Paul, 27, was scheduled to face Tyson in a match set for July, but the 58-year-old had to pull out after a health scare in May. "Iron Mike" dealt with an ulcer flare-up while traveling on a flight, leading to the postponement of the fight, which is now planned for November 15.
With the match approaching, Netflix has created a documentary about the contentious event, which the streaming service will broadcast live next week.
“In the documentary, Paul described his reaction to the news of his absence from the fight as being completely numb.”
I couldn't help but think, "Wow..." I'm someone who really enjoys having a routine and being aware of my plans. This completely disrupted everything. I felt powerless since it wasn't something I could change.
"No one can dictate to Mike Tyson, and if he expresses a desire to fight me, I won't hesitate to agree. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to step into the ring with one of the two greatest boxers in history – Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson."
"I've always viewed Mike Tyson as a fierce competitor, so I never anticipated anything like this."
Tyson's last professional fight took place in 2005, but he participated in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. as recently as 2020.
His matchup against Paul is set to be a formally recognized professional bout, consisting of eight rounds, each lasting two minutes, and knockouts will be permitted. The event is set to occur at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
When Tyson pulled out of the fight scheduled for July, Paul ended up competing against Mike Perry, who is a bare-knuckle boxer and a former UFC fighter. Paul secured a victory with a knockout in the sixth round.
Paul has faced several ex-UFC fighters in his bouts, such as Perry, Nate Diaz, Ben Askren, and former champions Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. He secured victories over Diaz and Silva by points, knocked out Askren, and won against Woodley two times—first by decision and then by knockout.
Paul's only defeat occurred in early 2023 when he faced Tommy Fury, the younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Tommy, who is both an influencer and a boxer, secured the victory by decision.
Paul has secured two victories against professional boxers, although they aren't particularly famous. He achieved knockouts against Ryan Bourland and Andre August, both of whom he defeated in the past year.
