By: Sean Crose
“I think he’s underestimating me,” Jake Paul said Fox News’ Jesse Watters Wednesday night.” Of course, Paul is referring to the legendary Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxer he will fight on July 20 in Texas. While this may be considered the ultimate novelty fight, both Paul and Tyson appear to be taking their preparations seriously. “It was a heavyweight fight so he was the bigger guy, but I was the faster guy…It was a really exciting fight,” Paul said. Indeed, “exciting” is perhaps the perfect word to describe Tyson-Paul. The match is so exciting. in fact, it’s set to dampen curiosity, as curiosity appears to be moving beyond the casual boxing fan base and into the general public.
Although he is a showman by nature, it was clear in the interview that 27-year-old Paul respects 57-year-old Tyson. “He looks like an animal,” Paul said admiringly. “He’s a dog. He is Iron Mike Tyson, but I believe I have what it takes to beat him.” However, Paul readily admits that the fight will not be easy. “It’s going to be difficult,” Paul said. “He’s the bigger guy so he’ll go inside.” This may very well be true, but it seems Paul and his team already have a plan. “I believe I have faster feet and faster hands,” Paul said, “and I will work the angles.”
From the sounds of it, Paul could be preparing for a repeat of Clay-Liston 1, where the younger boxer, who was about to change his name to Muhammad Ali, defeated and bested the old lion Liston. However, Tyson at his best was faster than Liston. At his peak, Tyson also used a top-notch defense. Clay was able to defeat Liston largely because Liston couldn’t land on him. If Tyson can’t land Paul, the night will belong to the rude online influencer. Yet all it took for Tyson, even a Tyson in his 50s, was a brief moment or two of contact. That’s it. Turn off the light. You should remember the old saying in boxing – the last thing for a boxer is the boxer’s strength.
Perhaps threatening Tyson, Paul took some time to joke with Watters about the upcoming fight. “He couldn’t bite my ear off if I broke his teeth,” he said of Tyson. Then Paul had a direct message to a former — and perhaps future — president. “Trump,” he said, “if you’re watching this, this is an invitation (to join the fight).”
