Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson 'boxing fan' fear, Netflix concerns and prize money split

Mike Tyson is gearing up for his first professional boxing match in nearly two decades. The 58-year-old is set to face Jake Paul on Friday, a bout that was originally scheduled for this summer but had to be postponed due to Tyson suffering an ulcer flare-up.

Doctors advised the former unified world champion to take time off to recover before resuming full training. The fight will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

It will consist of eight two-minute rounds, with each boxer wearing 14-ounce gloves. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations (TDLR) will sanction the event.

Fitness worries

Ahead of the much-anticipated fight, there have been concerns about Paul's fitness. Fans have expressed doubts after viewing video footage of Paul's training sessions shared on Instagram.

One viewer commented: "He does not look fit at all." However, others argued that Paul's appearance wasn't surprising, considering he had increased his weight for the Tyson fight.

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Training photos released ahead of the big fight left the boxing community divided over who will come out on top. Many fans are rooting for Tyson, with one supporter commenting: "Jake Paul is getting smoked."

One enthusiast is ready for action: "Let's go, Mike! Bring back that prime Mike feeling where it's over in the first." Another supporter jested: "Rip to Jake Paul."

A third observer has made a confident call: "Jake will lose this fight for sure."

Tyson's loyal fans are clearly itching to watch the boxing icon reclaim his former glory, yet some folks reckon Jake 'The Problem Child' Paul's youthful energy might just clinch him a significant victory. One commenter was bold enough to declare: "Jake Paul's gonna starch Tyson quick."

Paul warning

However, issuing a stark caution to Paul ahead of their rearranged bout, 'Sugar' Shane Mosley stressed: "If Mike really hits Jake, Mike can really hurt Jake, and I know what Mike can do and what Jake can do."

Sharing insights with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Mosley, 53, highlighted his doubts on whether Paul grasps the intensity of Tyson's punch: "I don't think Jake really understands how hard Mike can hit. Mike is 58, but these are two-minute rounds and all fighters have pride. I don't think Mike will be going in there to lose to Jake Paul. Jake thinks he can take a shot.

"In the first five or six rounds, and what makes this so fun, is that getting hit by Mike Tyson is dangerous, very dangerous. Jake will have to tire Mike out. Jake will need to understand how these punches will come at him.

"People need to understand that a bar fight between two guys is one thing, a professional fighter, especially a former world champion, regardless of age, is still a very dangerous man who can seriously hurt you. I don't know how long they would be able to hurt you [laughs], but these are punches from people who have been throwing punches all their lives."

Tyson admission

Tyson has quashed any suggestions that money is the primary motivator for his bout with Paul, insisting that his return to boxing isn't driven by financial necessity. The legendary heavyweight asserts that his re-emergence in the sport is fuelled by a craving for adventure and self-exploration, not monetary gain.

With his income now coming more from cannabis business than boxing, Tyson is compelled by the excitement of putting himself on the line and the process of self-discovery in the public eye. "I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis," Tyson remarked while providing commentary at a Cage Wars MMA event, confirming that the inherent dangers of taking on Paul resonate more with his personal quest for identity than the lure of a paycheck.

"That's bulls*** for me. I'm a man; I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk, sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I'm really made out of; I want to perform in front of the world. To me, that's all I ever knew how to do since I was 14. This fight is not going to change my life financially enough. This is just what I want to do."

Tyson has been upfront about his current physical condition but remains confident in his path to recovery, stating: "It's hard to walk right now," and following up with a determined "But two months from now, I'm going to be perfect. The fight is won in the gym. Listen, I'll do anything that will help me. I'm going to enjoy my time here tonight with all my childhood friends and the hell with Jake Paul."

Netflix stream and prize money

Netflix will broadcast the bout, and a substantial prize fund of $80million (£60m) will be split between the fighters. On the flip side, Paul has openly discussed his intent saying: "Making history. This is what it's all about for me, man. I'm a kid from Ohio. [...] They'll never give me credit. That's the way it is. If I was walking on water, they would say it's because I couldn't swim. And this is to make history. The people think I'm going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy."

'Boxing ban' claim

Cautions around a potential 'boxing ban' have emerged with ex-professional boxer Paulie Malignaggi warning Paul that causing significant harm to Tyson might trigger calls for the sport's prohibition. .

The former heavyweight champ has recently admitted to facing post-training challenges while gearing up for a required pre-fight medical examination. Malignaggi highlighted the dangers involved, remarking: "Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike's age aren't good. When you're younger, you can handle hits better."

He voiced concerns about the potential consequences if things were to go wrong, arguing that the fight shouldn't take place: "When you're older, your body isn't made for that kind of damage anymore. Things could go badly wrong. If something like that happened, people would be calling for the sport to be banned.

"Personally, I don't think his fight with Jake Paul should happen. He'll be 58 years old by then. Fifty-eight is still 58. We live in a generation that doesn't understand ageing is a real thing. You can show highlights of Mike from the '80s, but the guy stepping into the ring won't be that same Mike Tyson."

Malignaggi added to Canada Casino (as reported by the Mirror): "Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he's certainly not a novice. He's been boxing for about five years.

"After four years of boxing, I won the US National Championships, so Jake's far from a beginner. He's strong and young. Hitting someone Tyson's age has serious risks.

"Tyson wasn't taking punches well at 36, let alone now. If you hit a guy who's that old, it affects them. Imagine what getting hit by a strong guy like Jake would do to him. I wouldn't want to find out.

'Paul can't win'

UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock also weighed in, suggesting that a victory for Paul could leave fans effectively grieving the loss of a boxing legend.

Speaking on the dynamics of current boxing promotions, Shamrock expressed his admiration for Paul's approach. "Here's what I say because, like I said, I think what Jake Paul and them guys are doing is brilliant, I really do," he remarked.

"I think them never fighting a contender but making more money than any world championship fight is brilliant. I mean, it's brilliant, but this one's not good because Jake Paul can't win."

"[If Paul] wins, there's a huge bad taste in the world of boxing. It's a disappointment to an organisation that has loved Mike Tyson. It is like the death of somebody, and it should be victorious for Jake Paul, and I think on that small group of people that are following, yes, but, in that whole atmosphere of boxing, it's gonna feel like somebody died."

Tyson training

In an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Tyson shared insights into his training regimen leading up to a fight. Tyson revealed, "I am training extremely hard. I do six hours a day. I start at 11 a.m. and might leave the gym at 5 p.m."

When probed by a surprised Kimmel whether this was a continuous stretch or included a break, Tyson acknowledged taking a brief pause in his routine. A confounded Kimmel reacted, saying, "Oh no."