Mike Tyson praises Jake Paul, but also says ‘I’d beat these f*ckers’
Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing legend, recently shared his opinions on Jake Paul's effect on boxing, as well as what he would do against the YouTuber-turned-boxer at the age of 55.
As with many combat sports enthusiasts, Mike Tyson has expressed his frustration with the recent trend of the biggest fights not coming to fruition. However, Tyson also spoke highly of Jake Paul, acknowledging the excitement that he has brought to the sport.
The retired boxing legend expressed his appreciation for Paul's willingness to step into the ring and test his skills against other fighters, despite his background as a YouTuber.
'Iron Mike' on an episode of his podcast Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson, said:
"I love the fact he jumped into the game. People don’t understand that boxing needs that. At this stage in boxing the greatest fighters are not fighting each other, boxing needs a guy like this. Listen when he fights he brings 75 million to the box office."
While Mike Tyson may have praised Jake Paul's impact on the world of boxing, he was clear about what would happen if the two ever faced off in the ring. Despite Paul's growing reputation as a skilled fighter, Tyson made it clear that he believes he will come out on top in a hypothetical matchup.
The boxing veteran stated:
"I would beat these f**kers [Jake and Logan Paul]. I’d go straight at them, there would be no boxing. The only thing I got to do is be in shape."
Watch the entire conversation on Jake Paul below:
Jake Paul inches closer to cruiserweight division's top spot
If Jake Paul manages to defeat Tommy Fury on February 26 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, he will receive an official ranking from the World Boxing Council (WBC) in the cruiserweight division. This potential achievement could open up the opportunity for Paul to fight for the world title, with reigning champion Ilunga Makabu already scheduled to defend his belt on the same undercard.
The main reason for this is that boxing's four main sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO) maintain a top 15 list for each weight class. This list plays a crucial role in determining which fighters are eligible to challenge for world titles.
Depending on where 'The Problem Child' is ranked on this list, he could be considered for a world title shot in the near future, which is a significant achievement for any boxer. It highlights the importance of these rankings and how they can shape a fighter's career trajectory.
Interestingly, the current WBC cruiserweight world champion, Ilunga Makabu, is scheduled to defend his belt against Badou Jack on the undercard of the upcoming fight between Paul and Fury.
If Paul prevails over Fury and subsequently secures a high ranking in the WBC cruiserweight division, he could potentially challenge the winner of the Makabu-Jack fight for the world title. Though this may seem like a lofty goal, it aligns with Paul's public ambition of winning a boxing world title.