Mike Tyson will face Jake Paul in a professional fight, which involved British cruiserweight Richard Riakporhe.
Tyson announced his return against Paul on July 20, which was set to take place in an exhibition format, but it was confirmed the fight would now take place under professional sanctioned rules.
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There is a record age gap of 31 years between the two men, with “Iron Mike” set to step back into the ring at the age of 58, leading to him receiving medical warnings from doctors.
The ‘Midnight Train’, who will face Chris Billam-Smith in the cruiserweight world title match on June 15, believes it could be a sad outcome for Tyson if he is beaten by Paul.
“He’s definitely in danger and I think it’s sad to see him as a boxing fan,” Riakporhe told talkSPORT.com.
“I’m fighting and I don’t want to see a fellow boxer at this age, at 58, I just think he’s had his time.
“I think he’s done and should stay that way, but people will do what they want at the end of the day.
“I feel like it’s just dangerous, and the idea of a YouTube boxer beating Mike Tyson is not a good feeling for me.
“He could have that on his record and it’s not nice as a boxing fan because we consider Mike Tyson a legend.”
Tyson’s career as a professional ended in 2005 after three defeats in his last four fights, including against Kevin McBride in his last fight.
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The heavyweight icon has only fought once since then in an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020, a more balanced clash than in his next feat.
Despite the concerns, Tyson trained and showed bursts of power on the pads with trainer Rafael Cordeiro.
Fans reacted in a mixed mood to his footage, with some suggesting both men should call off the fight altogether.
Tyson and Paul are expected to win big for the event which will take place in front of 80,000 fans, a key motivation for their participation.
But in a bizarre admission before the fight, Tyson claimed he remained “scared to death” every time he competed, including again this summer.
“I have a weird personality, but I don’t think it’s weird. Whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it. That’s what it is,” Tyson told Fox News.
“I was scared of the Roy (Jones) fight. I was 100 pounds overweight, I was old though, 54, 53, and I said, ‘Let’s do it.’
“Whatever I’m afraid of, I face it. It’s my personality. Right now, I’m scared to death.
“The closer the fight gets, the less nervous I get because it’s reality, and in reality, I’m invincible.”
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