Mike Tyson is confident of victory over Jake Paul in their upcoming bout, promising to bring his best despite the 31-year age gap. At a news conference held on November 13, 2024, just two days before the fight in Irving, Texas, Tyson gave curt responses to questions, maintaining his focus ahead of the clash with the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer.
Health concerns surrounding Tyson were notably absent in the discussion. A previously scheduled fight on July 20 had to be postponed after Tyson was hospitalized for a stomach ulcer. He later revealed in a documentary that he had lost 26 pounds during recovery, though his team assured the public that Tyson had been medically cleared for weeks. The fight will be shorter than typical bouts, consisting of eight rounds with two-minute intervals, and the gloves will be heavier to reduce the force of punches.
Jake Paul, who has a 10-1 record with seven knockouts, mocked Tyson’s brief answers, calling the situation “cute” and hoping Tyson would bring the ferocity of his past. Paul even taunted Tyson by wearing a “diamond-spiked ear cover,” referencing the infamous 1997 incident when Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear.
However, Tyson quickly dismissed the notion of defeat when asked about the possibility of losing. His voice rising, he stated firmly, “I am not going to lose.”
Tyson, who retired 19 years ago with a record of 50-6 and 44 knockouts, will square off against Paul, who has faced mainly mixed martial artists and lesser-known boxers. The fight, which is the first combat sports event to be streamed on Netflix, will be available to over 280 million subscribers worldwide at no extra cost.