Tyson Fury is backing Mike Tyson to knock out Jake Paul when they duke it out this summer.
The pair are set to square off on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in a highly controversial bout live on Netflix.
Tyson will have just celebrated his 58th birthday by the time he steps into the ring while Paul is in his athletic prime at 27.
Despite the staggering 31-year age between them both, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has sanctioned it as a professional contest under a modified rule set.
The heavyweight fight will take place over eight, two-minute rounds, rather than the traditional three minutes.
Meanwhile, both competitors will wear 14oz gloves instead of the 10oz mitts pro boxers usually wear.
Regardless of how big the gloves are, Fury anticipates that Tyson’s legendary punching power will be too much for Paul.
“If Mike Tyson hits anybody, I don’t care if he’s 90, he’s going to knock them out cold isn’t he?” he told the MMA Hour ahead of his upcoming undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk on May 18,
“He’s Iron Mike Tyson, the baddest man on the planet. Jake Paul is very experienced now and he’s had a lot of fights but obviously, I have to back Mike Tyson for the knockout as he always backs me.”
Several members of the boxing fraternity have raised concerns about Tyson’s health as he prepares to return to the paid ranks for the first time in 19 years.
But Fury thinks it will be a ‘fantastic’ spectacle and has come out in defense of the fight.
“Only jealous fighters who aren’t getting paid and not getting laid, those are the fighters that are jealous,” he added.
“Negative people who are not making any money and are not set to gain anything from the fight.
“I think it’s fantastic, I think it’s created a lot of money. One for Texas, selling all of those tickets.
“That means it’s a big influence of dollars being spent in the local area.
“All of Mike’s team and Jake’s team is being fed from it and a lot of rent is being paid.
“I don’t know what to be negative about, I’m over the moon about it and looking forward to it.
“I got to see the legend of Mike Tyson back in the ring in my era.
“Jake and his brother have done fantastic too, I know we’ve got a rivalry going on with my brother Tommy, but I’ve got to say it as I see it.
“Jake and Logan have done fantastic for themselves from being young kids to becoming multi-millionaires.
“I know they’ve got a lot of haters but I’m not one of them, I’m a fan.
“I support being people going in and making millions of dollars out of boxing.
“It only makes it better for young people who don’t get paid, because more people will be interested in their fight. It brings more eyes to the game and it’s better.”
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News Summary:
- Tyson Fury can only see one outcome for Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson as he makes knockout prediction
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.