First-look at stripped down Mike Tyson from official weigh ins, stunned Jake Paul fans left speechless

Jesse Holland is among the longest-tenured media professionals in the combat sports news space, covering MMA, professional wrestling and boxing on a full-time basis since early 2004.

Mike Tyson certainly looks the part.

The former WBC heavyweight champion will make his return to the combat sports arena for an eight-round heavyweight showdown opposite celebrity pugilist Jake Paul, a Netflix-streamed boxing card that takes place this Friday night (Nov. 15, 2024) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Tyson turned 58 just a few weeks back.

“I will not say anything bad about this fight because I love Mike Tyson,” UFC CEO and longtime friend, Dana White, told The Jim Rome Show. “The only thing that I hope is that Mike comes out of this fight healthy. I just hope he does. At 58 years old, I mean, I’m 55, and obviously, I’ve never been the level of athlete that Mike Tyson is, but 27 vs. 58? It’s hard to consistently work out at that age just for health purposes and not get hurt.”

“It’s not about Mike having money issues or anything like that,” White continued. “Mike does fine. Mike does well, but when you have that type of money waved in front of you ... I hope he makes a bunch of money on Friday and I hope he comes out healthy. At the end of the day, it’s none of our business, it’s Mike Tyson’s business. He’s a grown man, he does what he wants to do, and I love him and I just want the best for him.”

So do his other friends, who understand just how “dangerous” this fight will be for the aging “Iron” man.