Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson has backed controversial YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to save the sport.

As one of the most notorious figures to have made the switch to boxing, Paul has shouldered much of the criticism for amateurs deciding on a career change from boxing’s traditionalists.

However, he has a strong record against former combat sport professionals, having beaten the likes of Anderson Silva, Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley, losing only to Tommy Fury in Saudi Arabia earlier in 2023 for his first professional loss.

Now Nate Diaz – a veteran of some 25 bouts in the UFC – is set to make his first foray into the boxing world when he faces the 26-year-old in the ring.

And Tyson has had plenty to say about his opponent, with Iron Mike insisting that Paul is ‘touched’ ahead of the fight.

‘He’s going to save boxing – as long as he continues to fight,’ said the 57-year-old. ‘He got the light, you know what I mean? He’s touched. He’s got the light.’

Paul himself has been outspoken about his own prospects against Diaz as he takes on one of the bigger names in the combat sports world – a man who he admitted was ‘a warrior’.

Diaz has however refrained from taking part in the usual media circus that accompanies the best-billed fights in the modern era, preferring to maintain a low profile in the build-up to the bout.

And it seems to have irked Paul – nicknamed The Problem Child – who claimed as with his fight against Fury earlier in the year, that he was doing all the heavy lifting when it comes to the pre-fight promo.

Additionally, Diaz’s apparent indifference has seemingly sparked a change of opinion from Paul, referring to him as a ‘b***h’ and promising to end his career on Saturday when they square off.

‘Whatever he wants to do,’ Paul said of the perceived lack of promotion from Diaz.

‘Saturday is his last day of being a fighter. I’m knocking him the f**k out, putting him to sleep. He’s a b***h. He’s a bully.

‘He’s not a professional like I am. That’s why I’m doing it at the highest level. That’s why he needs me to make these fights.’