Tyson Fury has described the controversial upcoming fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as ‘fantastic for boxing’ – despite a number of his peers criticising the surprising match-up.
The fight – which will take place on July 20 and be broadcast on streaming service Netflix – will see the 27-year-old YouTuber turned fighter go up against an opponent 30 years his senior, who has not fought since his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Paul’s promoters are claimed to be pushing for the fight itself to be made a professional contest, despite the fact that Tyson has not been seen in a professional ring since 2005.
By contrast, Paul has compiled a record of nine wins and one defeat over the last four years, with six of his victories ending in a knockout to highlight his punching power, despite his lack of experience.
While some are excited to see the return of Iron Mike to the ring, many have raised eyebrows about the unlikely pairing.
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Tyson Fury has applauded the proposed July meeting between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson
There is a 30-year age difference between the rivals, with Tyson set to turn 58 before the bout
The contest will take place at the A&T Arena in Arlington, Texas and stream live on Netflix
But Fury was more energised about the prospect, as he stressed that it wasn’t his place to judge whether the fight should go ahead or not.
‘I think it’s fantastic for boxing,’ Fury said on The Stomping Ground. ‘You’ve got a legend in Mike Tyson, you’ve got a YouTube boxer who’s come into the game and blew it up and has got millions of followers and millions of views and millions of eyes – good, bad or indifferent.
‘Some people love (Paul), some people hate him.
‘So, I think it’s a really good spectacle for boxing, brings a lot of people to the game. Listen, who am I to say Mike Tyson shouldn’t be boxing, or Jake Paul shouldn’t be boxing?
‘Good luck to them, they’re both gonna make what I call “a s***-ton of money” out of it, so isn’t that what it’s about?’
The heavyweight champion also had high praise for the stadium the pair will meet in, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
‘I’ve been to that stadium, when Billy Joe (Saunders) fought Canelo (Saul Alvarez),’ Fury continued. ‘It’s a great stadium, it’ll be fantastic for the guys.
‘Both are getting paid, both are gonna put on a show. I just don’t know what’s not to like.
‘Okay, (one) guy is 57 years old, but he’s a former undisputed world heavyweight king.
‘(Paul has gone) from being a kid on the Disney channel to fighting Mike Tyson, who wouldn’t want to do that? You’ve got to admire them both.’
Tyson has not fought a professional bout since 2005 and hasn’t stepped in the ring since 2020
By contrast the YouTuber has won nine times and been defeated once over the past four years
Fury – who is due to contest his own big-money match-up when he meets Oleksandr Usyk in their delayed undisputed heavyweight champion clash on May 8 – suggested that the contest itself will be’pretty even’.
But the Gypsy King also hinted at the real reason both Paul and Tyson might have agreed to face off against one another in July.
‘People say, “Ah, it’s s***,’”and this, that and the other,’ Fury suggested. ‘But I bet they still watch it.
‘Who’s not intrigued?’
