Jake Paul, the YouTube sensation turned professional boxer, has issued a stern warning to his upcoming opponent, boxing legend Mike Tyson. Despite their 30-year age difference, Paul has made it clear that he will "absolutely not" go easy on Tyson in the ring during their fight.
The match-up, set to take place at Texas' AT&T Stadium, is one of the most anticipated fights of the year. The fight has sparked much debate within the boxing community due to the vast experience gap between the two fighters.
Paul is relatively new to the sport with only ten professional fights under his belt, while Tyson, a former world heavyweight champion, retired nearly two decades ago. Boxing greats Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury have voiced their support for the event, while others such as Carl Froch and Oscar De La Hoya have expressed their scepticism.
Regardless of the differing opinions, the fight has been officially sanctioned by the Texan authorities and will count towards both fighters' professional records. In light of this, Paul has vowed not to hold back when he faces Tyson on July 20. Despite the significant age difference, the internet star has promised to seize any opportunity to knock out the veteran fighter 'in an embarrassing fashion'.
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"So, I have to reciprocate that same energy," he explained, as he talked up his foe's credentials. "Mike Tyson is a killer. He's ruthless. He's the most vicious champion ever. So, I have to channel that Mike Tyson energy to finish him. And the legend must fall."
"I love Mike. I'm super respectful of him. It's an honor to be in the ring with him. But I have to end him," he said last month, while also issuing some customary fighting talk, adding: "It's war. All is fair in love and war. I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die."
It appears that the respect is mutual too, with Tyson having spoken glowingly about Paul as part of the Netflix documentary "Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child", claiming the latter has done 'more for boxing than some of the champions did'. He said: "We got to keep this guy bright because he's going to save boxing as long as he continues to fight. He got the light, you know what I mean? He's touched. He got the light."
Paul responded to these kind words by commenting: "I think all that still stands. He's a legend. I love the guy. But at the end of the day, it's war and you just have to go to war and put it all on the line. I still have the utmost respect for him, and I think he'll say the same about me and what I've done for the sport."
Undaunted by the scale of the event he's about to participate in, the 27 year old internet celebrity-turned-heavyweight boxer described his journey to the most significant fight of his career: "Well, here we are. Biggest moment of my life, biggest stage."
"From Vine, to a stadium. 80,000 people, breaking records. The highest gate ever, this is a testament to hard work. Dedication, manifestation, believing in yourself. Just a surreal full-circle moment for me, Dallas was the first place I went to for a fan meet up when I was 17-years-old off of vine. Now I'm back here, the biggest stadium possible."
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