Earlier this year, Paul made headlines by announcing that Tyson, the former heavyweight champion, would be his next opponent.
The fight, originally scheduled for an earlier date, was postponed to November 15 due to Tyson’s medical emergency during a flight.
Paul’s long-time rival, KSI, has been one of the most vocal critics of the matchup. On Friday’s episode of talkSPORT Breakfast, KSI expressed his disapproval, calling the fight “stupid” and accusing Paul of trying to exploit Tyson’s age and condition.
KSI remarked, “He’s trying to fight an OAP. He has no business fighting someone who can barely walk. It’s ridiculous, but it’s Jake Paul. It’s all about taking advantage of people who are at a disadvantage. I wish Netflix didn’t entertain it, but it is what it is.”
In response to the backlash, Paul spoke with talkSPORT MMA’s Gareth A. Davies at a PFL press conference in Washington for Francis Ngannou vs Renan Ferreira. Paul addressed the criticism by emphasizing his respect for Tyson and challenging critics to step into the ring themselves.
“I think it’s disrespectful to Mike, first and foremost,” Paul said. “If Mike wants to fight, then Mike wants to fight. If he wants it to be a pro fight, then let’s do it. It’s an honor to share the ring with him.”
Despite Tyson’s absence from professional boxing since 2005, Paul believes Tyson still exhibits formidable strength.
He commented, “You look at his training videos and his mitt work—he has a 30-pound weight advantage and is incredibly strong. People can criticize all they want, but they’re still going to watch.”
Paul concluded by highlighting the generational divide in interest for the fight. “I think people over 30 want Tyson to win, while those 25 and younger want me to win. That’s what makes this fight so intriguing.”
