Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson said he was ‘scared to death’ upcoming fight against social media star turned boxer Jake Paul.
“Iron Mike” told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity Tuesday night that “whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it.”
“Whatever I’m afraid of, I face,” he said. “And that’s my personality. Like right now, I’m scared to death. But the closer the fight gets, the less nervous I get because that’s reality. And in reality, I’m invincible.
Daniele Venturelli (left)/Al Bello (right)/Getty Images
Tyson said he trained every day and didn’t think Paul was faster than him even though he was half his age. The 57-year-old also said his 27-year-old opponent had come a “long way” from his days as a YouTube influencer.
“That’s not the guy I’m going to fight,” he told Hannity. “This guy is going to come and try to hurt me, which is what I’m used to. And he’s going to be very wrong.”
In March, Netflix announced that Tyson would face Paul live on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Texas. The stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, can accommodate approximately 80,000 people.
Tyson hasn’t fought in the ring since he and Roy Jones Jr. met at an exhibition in 2020 that ended in a draw. Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world from 1987 to 1990. He retired in 2005 after winning 50 fights, 44 of them by knockout.
Paul became a professional boxer four years ago. He has won nine of his last 10 fights, with six knockouts. His only loss came last year against Tommy Fury, the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Christophe Brito
Grub5
