Mike Tyson is just four weeks away from his return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The clash will be ‘Iron’ Mike’s first professional bout in nearly twenty years and concerns about him returning at age 58 have been raised by fans and fighters alike.
“I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time. Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flareup, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover.
My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good. I appreciate everyone’s patience and can’t wait to deliver an unforgettable performance later this year.”
Now veteran promoter Bob Arum, who promoted Tyson early in his career, has had his say, telling Johnny Boy Boxing that the former heavyweight champion has ‘relatively no chance’ of beating the man over thirty years his junior.
“The answer is no [Tyson can’t beat Paul].
A 58 year old guy, no matter how good they were, no matter how athletic they were, are not gonna be able to fight. You can’t throw punches like you’re supposed to, you can’t do a lot of things. I hope Mike doesn’t get hurt, but I really give him relatively no chance.
You lose that muscle memory as you get older.”
Paul vs Tyson takes place at the AT&T stadium in Texas and will be streamed live on Netflix as part of a standard subscription.
