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| Mike Tyson and Jake Paul go to war later this month (Image: AP) |
'Iron Mike' hasn't fought a professional contest since losing to Kevin McBride back in 2005, but will make a sensational return to the ring next week against 'The Problem Child'
Roy Jones Jr believes Mike Tyson will benefit from the shorter rounds in his upcoming heavyweight fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The fight - which is scheduled to take place on November 15 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas - will see Paul and Tyson go toe-to-toe in a professional showdown in an eight two-minute round format - as opposed to the more standard three-minute rounds. The sanctioned fight has already been approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves, more padded than the standard gloves.
The 58-year-old's last professional contest came back in 2005 against Kevin McBride. After quitting on the stool that night, Tyson opted to retire from the sport. He did, however, take part in an exhibition showdown with Jones Jr four years ago.
As for Paul, 'The Problem Child' made his debut in 2020 and has since taken the sport by storm. So far, the young American has defeated the likes of Anderson Silva, Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz. His only defeat in the squared-circle came last year, losing on points to Tommy Fury. He has since bounced back with big wins over Diaz, Andre August, Ryan Bourland and Mike Perry.
Recently, Paul had dared his legendary opponent to take him on over 10 three-minute rounds after public demands, but the rules will NOT be changed. With the rules now set in stone ahead of the dust-up next Friday, Tyson's former opponent - Jones Jr - believes that it will benefit the 58-year-old.
Jones Jr believes the shorter rounds will help Tyson's endurance. In an interview with MMANYTT, he said: “When I boxed him four years ago, we did two-minute rounds, and, surprisingly, he didn’t lose energy; he kept the same pace”.
In the same interview, Jones Jr gave his official prediction for the upcoming contest. While many believe that Paul's age will prove to be a big factor, the boxing veteran insists Tyson is fully capable of getting the job done in Texas. “I believe in Mike, likely via decision. But if he wants to finish it, he can. Yet, if he’s just looking to enjoy the fight, he might take it slow and have some fun”, he added.
The 55-year-old concluded: "I’m not worried about Mike and his age. Mike is still hard to hit, and he hits like a truck.” While Jones Jr remains optimistic, There are a few fans who believe that 'Iron Mike' is not taking the fight seriously. During a recent chat with Jimmy Kimmel, the 58-year-old claimed he was training six hours a day. "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm", he said. Kimmel looked stunned and replied: "Oh no. 11am? So that's six hours straight, or is there a lunch break?" The former heavyweight champion admitted there was a small break as a shocked Kimmel gasped: "Oh no".
In the same interview, when Tyson was asked if he intends to be high during his bout with Paul, he replied: “I’m going to be so high off life, yeah." Kimmel then asked: “Will you be high on marijuana, as well?" Tyson replied: "That’s a possibility, too." The host then commented: "Oh no my bet is getting lower as we talk".
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