After the PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants press conference last night, Jake Paul didn’t hold back.
He took aim at critics who have dismissed Mike Tyson’s comeback due to his age. With the highly anticipated fight between Paul and the legendary boxer now rescheduled for November 15 in Arlington, Texas, Paul is making it clear that he believes this fight is more than just a bout with a 58-year-old.
Paul, who has bounced back from a split decision loss to Tommy Fury with four straight wins—three of which were knockouts—sees this fight as a stepping stone toward a world title. He is confident that a victory over Tyson will pave his way to championship contention.
In an interview with talkSPORT’s Gareth A. Davies after the press conference, Paul shared his thoughts on his future in boxing:
“Yeah 100%, that’s why I’m here – cruiserweight – that’s why I’m still here in the sport, still motivated, still training hard,” Paul said. He added that becoming a world champion will silence his critics: “At the end of the day, when I do become world champion, everyone can shut the f*** up and they won’t have anything else to say… All the critiques will echo away, and no one will listen anymore because becoming a world champion, what can anyone say when that happens?”
Boxer Jake Paul Slams Critics Who Question Mike Tyson’s Age
Paul’s ambition extends beyond just winning fights; he wants to make a mark in boxing history:
“I’m here to create the greatest sports story in the history of the sport, the most relatable one,” he explained. He hopes his journey from a novice to a world champion will inspire others. “It’s cool to be 6’7” and jump 40” and go to the NBA but I want to be an example to the kids out there that in six years, I can go from zero not knowing what a right-cross is to becoming a world champion.”
Paul believes that his rapid rise should serve as a motivational example:
“I should be the example for other people out there where you can start something and in six years’ time, they can become the best at it.”
The age of Mike Tyson has sparked significant debate about the upcoming fight. Paul has strong opinions about the critics who say Tyson is too old:
“I think it’s disrespectful to Mike first and foremost; I would say to them to ‘Get into the ring with him’ and then I would say if Mike wants to fight, then Mike’s going to fight,” Paul said. He further emphasized, “If he wants to fight, and he wants to make it a professional fight then okay, I want to fight Mike Tyson – that’s legendary, it’s an honour to be in the ring with him and if he wants the fight to be a pro fight, okay let’s do it.”
Paul also noted that the negativity around the matchup could actually boost interest in the fight:
“I get the old guard and old people want to see me lose but at the end of the day, that’s what makes this fight interesting with two generations coming together… I think [everyone] 30 years or older wants Mike Tyson [to win], 25 and younger want me to win.”
Fight Set for November 15
With the fight scheduled for November 15 and set to be streamed live exclusively on Netflix, Paul is ready to prove himself. He remains focused on his goal, stating, “That’s what makes it very interesting and at the end of the day, power is the last thing to go so I still have to be super alert and super sharp throughout the whole fight.”
The clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about events of the year. With both fighters bringing their own unique strengths to the ring, fans can expect a thrilling match when the two face off this November.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
