Boxing icon Oscar De La Hoya has expressed his concerns about Mike Tyson's safety in the upcoming bout with Jake Paul , admitting he's "a little scared" for 'Iron Mike' if the fight extends beyond the third round.
The much-talked-about clash is set to take place on November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas, and will be officially recognized as a professional heavyweight match by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
Despite Tyson's absence from professional boxing since his defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005, and his last appearance being an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr four years ago, he's been gearing up for the fight. Tyson had to withdraw from the original July match due to an ulcer but has since hit the gym again, claiming he's ready to rumble.
As the fight draws near, predictions are flying in, and during an episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast, De La Hoya shared his unease about Tyson's chances against the younger Paul. "Come on. I saw him the other day," De La Hoya remarked.
"I love Tyson, he's got a puncher's chance in the first three rounds. I'm a little scared of Tyson getting hurt after the third round. Jake Paul's a big boy, he's 26 years old [sic, 27], Tyson's 61 [sic, 58]. I'm happy for him that he's making money, that he still loves it, he's getting in there and he's in shape, but just be careful."
Ahead of their upcoming match, 'The Problem Child' recently proposed a hefty $5 million incentive to Tyson if 'Iron Mike' can survive until the fourth round of their bout next month. In a video posted on his gambling site, Betr's Tik Tok page, Paul is seen lounging shirtless on a couch, stacking money on his faux belly. "Mikey, Mikey, if you can last more than four rounds with me, I'll give you an extra $5 million,'' Paul declared.
However, there was a slight twist in the American's proposition. 'The Problem Child' disclosed that if Tyson couldn't endure more than four rounds, then the boxing legend would need a permanent memento of his defeat to the young contender.
He added: "But, if you don't, then you have to get a tattoo that says I love Jake Paul. Deal or no deal?'' So far, Tyson's team has not responded to the staggering wager.
Since making his professional debut in the ring back in 2020, Paul has been active in the sport of boxing. With a record of 10-1, the American's only defeat in the squared-circle came against Tommy Fury last year. The 27 year old enters the clash with 'Iron Mike' following a crushing sixth-round knockout victory over former UFC star Mike Perry.
In a candid exchange with Jimmy Kimmel, Mike Tyson was quizzed about his state during the upcoming fight with Paul, to which he responded: "I'm going to be so high off life, yeah." Probing further, Kimmel inquired: "Will you be high on marijuana, as well? " Tyson didn't rule it out, admitting: "That's a possibility, too." The conversation took a humorous turn when Kimmel remarked: "Oh no my bet is getting lower as we talk."
Doubts have been cast by fans over Tyson's commitment to the match. In his conversation with Kimmel, 'Iron Mike' insisted on his rigorous training regime, stating, "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm."
A surprised Kimmel questioned the intensity of the training: "Oh no. 11am? So that's six hours straight, or is there a lunch break? " Tyson conceded there was indeed a brief intermission, prompting an astonished reaction from Kimmel: "Oh no."
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