The controversial fight between heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is now only a matter of weeks away.
The 58-year-old boxing icon will make his professional return to the ring for the first in nearly twenty years when he takes the man over thirty years his junior.
One fighter with a unique insight into the contest is Shannon Briggs. Like Tyson, Briggs is a former heavyweight champion but also trained Paul at the very start of his boxing career.
Speaking on ‘The Fumble’ podcast, Briggs said he was the reason both Paul brothers got into the sport.
“I’m one of the reasons you have influencer boxing today. I trained both of those boys [Jake Paul and Logan Paul], I got them into boxing, I thought it would be great because they’ve got a fanbase and they introduced something to their fanbase out of nowhere and they took to it and look what they did for the sport of boxing, these guys have brought in millions of kids from all over the world. I’ve got kids coming up to me not knowing I was even a boxer but know I trained Jake and Logan Paul.”
On the fight itself, ‘The Cannon’ told FightHype that it’s good for boxing despite the concerns of some fans and pundits.
“It’s great for Mike, he’s making some money. At his age he’s still making millions of dollars and having exhibitions, that’s what he’s supposed to do, why wouldn’t he? Do 100 of them if you can. As for Jake, good for him to, to have a name like Mike Tyson to be in the ring with, his brother fought Floyd Mayweather, so that’s great for both of them.”
Briggs can’t see it going the distance and said either man is capable of knocking out the other.
“He can knock Jake out and Jake can knock him out. He’s a grown man but he’s going to get hit by another grown man.”
