The highly anticipated Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight is under ‘genuine’ threat of never going ahead, according to one insider.
The bout was postponed last week after the 57-year-old boxing legend suffered nausea and dizziness on a cross-country flight due to an ulcer flare up.
Although doctors advised the athlete to push the match back until the Fall, Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix claimed there was ‘genuine concern’ about whether Tyson will ever be able to fight Paul.
‘Mike Tyson is 57 years old; he’s almost 58 years old. They’re saying it’s a minor ulcer issue, but I don’t think anything’s minor at that stage of your life, especially when it comes to putting yourself in the proper shape to fight a professional boxing match,’ Mannix said during an appearance on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ Monday.
He went on, ‘There is genuine concern from people that are also on the card — I mean, there are another number of fights that are also on the card — about this specific card moving forward.’
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The Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight is under ‘genuine’ threat of never going ahead
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Chris Mannix claimed that undercard boxers feared the 57-year-old will never fight Paul
The journalist, however, suggested that he doesn’t believe the fight was ‘completely off.’
‘It’s certainly not out of the question,’ he said. ‘But again, there are people involved who are expressing skepticism that this specific fight is going to move forward.’
The bout was originally scheduled to take place on July 20 at AT&T Stadium.
Mannix claimed organizers were working with the Dallas Cowboys to explore two possible new dates in mid-October and mid-November that wouldn’t conflict with the NFL season.
In a video posted to social media, the former YouTuber said he was ‘heartbroken’ to have to postpone the fight.
‘Obviously, devastating news,’ he said in the clip shared on X. ‘I’m heartbroken, speechless, gutted. We’ve been working so hard over here in this camp.’
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The pair were set to face off on July 20, but a recent ulcer flare up left Tyson unable to train
Mike Tsyon seen working out days before health scare
He continued, ‘I just feel bad for everyone involved in this event, the undercard. The opportunity has been ripped from all of us.’
However, despite his personal disappointment, Paul did go onto send his well-wishes to Tyson.
‘I do value Mike’s health first and foremost, love that guy. I have so much respect for him and I want Mike to be healthy,’ he said.
‘And he says he is still going to knock me out and I bought myself some time, so Mike is still talking s**t over there. You said you wanna do this in Q4, I’m ready, you just need a little bit of time, so I’m ready whenever you are.’
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Paul was ‘heartbroken’ and ‘gutted’ but said the 57-year-old’s health was more important
![Paul said that he 'fully support[s] postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/04/14/85694685-13493131-image-a-17_1717506886351.jpg)
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Paul said that he ‘fully support[s] postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses’
Speaking after the fight was postponed, Tyson said, ‘I want to thank my fans around the world for their support and understanding during this time.
‘Unfortunately, due to my ulcer flare up, I have been advised by my doctor to lighten my training for a few weeks to rest and recover.
‘My body is in better overall shape than it has been since the 1990s and I will be back to my full training schedule soon. Jake Paul, this may have bought you some time, but in the end you will still be knocked out and out of boxing for good.
The ulcer flare up in question occurred onboard an American Airlines flight from Miami to LA on Sunday, May 26 – forcing flight staff to ask passengers if there was a doctor on board to provide assistance.
