Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are now just weeks away from their controversial showdown.
The two men meet at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday 15 November, as ‘Iron Mike’ prepares to have his first professional boxing match in nearly 20 years.
Tyson fought some of the best in the heavyweight division during his career, and two of them have now weighed in on the upcoming match-up.
Lennox Lewis fought Tyson in 2002, defeating his rival by eighth round stoppage, and he told Fox 29 that he’s predicting a victory for his former foe.
“Mike Tyson’s gonna win. He’s not that old. Don’t take him too softly. We’re one year apart … You can fight somebody like that and do well, because the person you’re fighting is not a true fighter and there’s a hundred things that you’ve forgotten that he’s learning.
[The age] will be a little bit of a determining factor if the fight goes on too long, but if they get close and Mike comes with his ten second combination, if one of those punches catches [Paul] he’s definitely gonna go down.”
Another of Tyson’s biggest adversaries was Evander Holyfield, with the pair meeting twice in the 1990s. Holyfield won the first meeting by 11th round stoppage before the rematch featured the infamous ear bite from Tyson, resulting in a third round disqualification.
Holyfield has also shared his thoughts on next month’s battle, explaining to Fight Hub TV where the fight will be won and lost.
“I don’t know how much confidence that Jake Paul has and all of that, but he’s gonna be a lot quicker. If he stays close to Mike then his chance of winning is going to be great, but if he tries to stay back from Mike he’s going to get caught.
“Mike is like a snake. He’ll pop out on you. He gets there too quick. But if you charge him, you’re going to smother him. He push off his legs so he’s too close, but if you give him room everybody gets knocked out going backwards. Give him room and you’re gonna be messed up.”
It will all become clear when Tyson and Paul meet in November.
