Mike Tyson returns to boxing this year to face Jake Paul over eight two-minute rounds.
The fight, initially postponed due to medical issues on the former heavyweight champion’s part, has drawn criticism from many in the sport, branded dangerous largely due to Tyson’s inactivity and the 30-year age gap between competitors.
‘Iron’ Mike has dismissed any concern and has taken to posting updates from training camp showing the explosive punches that made him famous.
Speaking to Seconds Out, analyst and early days Tyson coach Teddy Atlas said it was not surprising the 58-year-old looks good on the pads but warned a real fight is extremely different.
“I’m always gonna shoot it down the middle whether you like it or not … It’s one thing to hit someone when ain’t no one hitting back.
When you’re a certain athlete, when you have those quick twitch muscles, when you’re of a certain stature that the ordinary person will never realise… You could be a baseball player at 58 and get in a batting cage, what do you think the guy’s gonna look like? He’s gonna look pretty good … that can be deceiving.
Yeah it looks great and yeah he can still punch. Your reflexes will go with time, your speed will be eroded with time, your timing will go out the window with time, but power, power will always stay there … All I’m saying is that when you see those videos, I would expect him to be able to do that because he was that elite of a talent.”
As for how the fight will play out, Atlas said Tyson is likely to be dangerous for the opening two rounds but that the youth of Paul will take over if he survives.
“If it’s legitimate, if it’s not pre-arranged, yeah the first couple minutes could be a little risky for Paul against a guy who was the youngest heavyweight champ and a guy with one of the greatest combinations of speed and power in the history of the heavyweight division. For one or two rounds, could it be a little hairy? Yeah.
If he don’t catch him, or he don’t hurt him, then the gas tank starts to putter, if that happens, then the young man would have the advantage. Even a young man who’s far less accomplished in the game.”
