Mike Tyson has assured fans that he is “just fine” and has minimized health concerns ahead of his upcoming bout with Jake Paul, while also requesting that those around him wear face masks as a precaution.
The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, who hasn’t fought professionally since 2005, is set to face 27-year-old Paul, who has won 10 of his 11 pro fights. The match, scheduled for AT&T Stadium in Dallas and to be streamed live on Netflix, has sparked criticism from the boxing community due to the age difference and the rescheduling prompted by Tyson’s stomach ulcer in July.
Speaking to BBC Sport during a media workout on Tuesday, Tyson said his training camp has been tough but rewarding. “It’s not easy, but it’s worth it,” he noted. “No one is taking it easy on me. They want to see if I can quit, but I’m still here. Now that training is done, the fight is the celebration.”
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, which has sanctioned the fight as a professional event, emphasized its commitment to the health and safety of all competitors. Medical assessments for all fighters on the card are scheduled for Thursday.
Nakisa Bidarian from Most Valuable Promotions stated that this is standard practice for boxing events in the area and confirmed that the fight will “100%” go ahead. The match will feature eight two-minute rounds, and fighters will wear 14-ounce gloves instead of the usual 10-ounce gloves to lessen the force of the punches.
