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Boxing legend Mike Tyson has sent a chilling message to Jake Paul as they prepare to face off in a much-anticipated comeback fight later this year. The 57-year-old Tyson is set to meet the 27-year-old Paul on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in what has become a highly divisive bout among fans.
Tyson, who has been training rigorously for the fight, has dismissed critics who question the safety and legitimacy of the matchup. In a recent interview with Reuters (via The Mirror), Tyson hit back at naysayers, accusing them of being "jealous" of the attention he and Paul are receiving.
"I'm 58 and what? I'm getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting. Everybody, even most of the athletes, they're jealous, that's whack," Tyson said. "I say in your prime you couldn't draw a million people, man. What are you talking, you couldn't sell out an arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?"
Tyson also took a shot at current boxers, suggesting they lack the entertainment value to draw a crowd. "The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them. That's just keeping it real. They're too boring for their children to watch, it's like watching grass grow," Tyson added.
Despite his criticism of current boxers, Tyson expressed admiration for two modern heavyweights, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou. He posted an image of Fury's controversial points win over Ngannou from October on Snapchat, noting that it gave him chills and brought back memories of his own battles in the ring.
As Tyson gears up for his showdown with Paul, the details of the fight format remain unclear. It is yet to be confirmed whether the fight will be fully professional, a non-judged fight with professional rules, or an exhibition bout. However, bookies have already installed Paul as the early favorite to win, should the fight be judged.
With both fighters known for their knockout power and showmanship, the Tyson-Paul matchup is expected to draw significant attention and could potentially redefine the boundaries between professional boxing and entertainment.