Mike Tyson has confirmed that his fight with Jake Paul will be an exhibition contest.
Organisers had hoped to get the fight sanctioned as a pro bout under the auspices of the Texas Boxing Commission.
However, ‘Iron Mike’ has revealed this will not be the case although the boxing icon insisted it would be contested under ‘real fight’ rules.
“This is called an exhibition, but if you look up exhibition, you won’t see any of the laws we’re fighting under,” he told Fox News.
“This is a fight. I don’t think he’s faster than me. I’ve seen a YouTube video of him at 16 doing weird dancing.
“That’s not the guy I’m fighting. This is a guy who’s going to try and hurt me, which I’m accustomed to, and he’s going to be greatly mistaken.”
Paul and Tyson will square off on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – the home of NFL outfit, Dallas Cowboys.
The fight will be broadcast on Netflix for free to all existing subscribers.
Tyson, who will be 58 years old by the time he climbs into the ring, has vowed to teach the ex-Disney star a lesson but admits there is no bad blood between them.
“I will do just that but dislike him? I do not have no grudges against him, he’s beautiful – not from that perspective,” he added.
In a candid moment, Tyson also admitted he was ‘scared to death’ ahead of the fight.
“I have a weird personality – I don’t think it’s weird though. Whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it. That’s how it is,” said Tyson
“I was afraid of the Roy [Jones] fight. I was 100 pounds overweight, I was however old, 54, 53, and I said ‘Let’s do it.’
“Anything I’m afraid of, I confront it. That’s my personality. Right now, I’m scared to death.
“I always believed that adversity and nervousness pretty much catapulted me into success.
“If I didn’t have these feelings, I wouldn’t go into this fight. I have to have these feelings to fight. Without them, I would never go in the ring.
“As the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become because it’s reality, and in reality, I’m invincible.”
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News Summary:
- Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson confirmed to be exhibition but with ‘real fight’ rules
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