Boxing legend Mike Tyson has been warned he will get ‘obliterated’ when he makes a stunning return to the ring to fight Jake Paul.
The legendary boxer, 58, faces YouTuber-turned fighter Paul, 27, at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 15.
The fight, which has been sanctioned as a professional bout, was initially scheduled for July but was postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up.
Tyson established himself as one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time 30 years, reigning as the undisputed champion from 1987 to 1990.
The American ended his professional career in 2005 but did fight fellow legend Roy Jones Jr. four years ago in an exhibition event.
Paul, meanwhile, has won 10 of his 11 fights since making his boxing debut in 2020, his sole defeat coming against Tyson Fury’s younger brother Tommy.
British boxing legend Lennox Lewis believes his old foe Tyson will get the job done against Paul but YouTube star KSI disagrees and expects Tyson to get ‘absolutely destroyed’.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, KSI – who fought Jake Paul’s brother Logan – said: ‘I’ve seen parts of his training footage. He [Paul] just looks awful.
‘He just looks so slow, so sluggish. This isn’t his natural weight. It is what it is. I still think he’s going to absolutely destroy Mike Tyson because Mike Tyson is old, he’s old as f***.
‘And when he does get obliterated and then people on Twitter are going to be like, “how did we let this happen? Oh no, this is so bad!” I’m going to be the one being like, “well, I f****** told you”.’
Explaining why he is backing Tyson, Lewis recently told TMZ: ‘I would hope he would go into a fight where he would win.
‘He’s a boxer, he knows how to protect himself, he knows how to throw body shots, he knows how to cut off the ring.
‘He is younger than me so it really depends on his mobility, whether he can move fast around the ring when he’s going after a younger guy. We will have to see.
‘I haven’t seen him lately to know if he can take it, but I have seen him looking muscular, so of course he can take it if he is in good shape.’
Tyson has also been backed to seal an emphatic win in Texas by his former trainer, Jeff Fenech.
‘If it was my decision, I’d much prefer him not fight at all, but he’s going to fight,’ Fenech told the Daily Mirror.
‘I’ve spoken to him a few times [recently]. I spoke to him about the fight. Realistically, if Mike uses upstairs and nothing else, and does the right things, this could be the easiest money he’s ever made.
‘When you’re both throwing punches, it’s a 50/50 thing who lands. But if Mike concentrates and makes him miss, and then makes him pay…
‘That’s what Mike’s an expert in, he’s got great head movement. If he does that in 30 seconds, the fight could be over in 30 seconds.
‘Mike just needs to use his common sense, don’t try to punch when he’s punching, make him miss and make him pay.’
The Australian, 60, added: ‘Jake Paul doesn’t have the skill, the boxing knowledge.
‘I’ve watched him but anyone can punch a pad or a bag or someone who really can’t fight. When you’re bigger and you’re stronger, that’s all good.
‘But Mike, as a heavyweight, was a great defensive fighter. He could slip and make people miss. If he does that and lands a counter-punch, then the fight is going to be over.
‘There’s not a chance in the world Jake Paul can take a Mike Tyson hook, a Mike Tyson right hand or a Mike Tyson uppercut.
‘That’s what I’m hoping [for]. I love Mike, he’s a great friend, he’s like family to me. I just hope everything goes well.’
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