Francis Ngannou didn’t mince his words when delivering his ruthless verdict on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson directly to the YouTube star’s face.
The former UFC heavyweight champion joined ‘The Problem Child’ on the most recent episode of his ‘BS w/ Jake Paul’ podcast.
Among other topics, Ngannou was quizzed on his thoughts about Paul’s controversial crossover clash with Tyson on November 15.
‘The Predator’ trained with ‘Iron Mike’ ahead of his professional boxing debut against Tyson Fury last year and insists the 58-year-old ‘has still got it’.
During a PFL media scrum in Washington DC last month Ngannou told a group of reporters that he thinks Tyson will ‘beat Paul’s a***’ and the MMA superstar stood by those words when Paul brought them up.
“You spoke to some reporter yesterday or the day before and you said that Mike Tyson is going to beat my a**,” said Paul.
Without hesitation, Ngannou replied: “I do. Listen, I have seen Tyson move around to show me stuff and I was like, ‘Calm down.’ He has still got it.”
Most feel Tyson’s only chance of beating Paul is by knockout, but Ngannou gives his former mentor more than a puncher’s chance.
“Either way I think Mike Tyson will beat you,” he added. “We’re talking about Mike bro. Mike is something else, he is a specimen.”
To Paul’s credit, he took it well.
“I love it when people stand on business and say the other person is going to win,” he laughed.
“This is great for me, Francis Ngannou says I’m going to get knocked the f*** out.”
Paul then jokingly asked what he should look out for against Tyson.
To which, Ngannou responded: “You need to watch out for everything.
“Mike will move from this side to this side without you knowing.
“In another circumstance, I would be like ‘OK, let’s go Jake’, but this I’m like, ‘Bro, let’s be real’.”
Paul and Tyson were initially supposed to duke it out on July 20, but the fight was postponed after the former undisputed heavyweight champion was deemed medically unfit to compete this summer following an ulcer flare-up.
As a result, Mike Perry stepped on short notice to save the show and was subsequently stopped in the sixth round, while Paul vs Tyson was pushed back four months.
Despite Tyson’s age and his history of medical issues, Paul is certain the fight will go ahead this autumn and is so confident of this being the case that he hasn’t even sorted a backup opponent.
“I don’t have concern,” Paul told TMZ. “He’s doing great. He’s super healthy behind the scenes and feeling great.
“So that’s what we are focusing on and there is not a back-up currently.”
Paul vs Tyson has been sanctioned as a professional heavyweight contest by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) but will take place under a modified rule set.
The fight will consist of eight, two-minute rounds rather than the usual three-minute stanzas while both boxers will wear 14oz gloves, instead of 10oz mitts.
Knockouts are allowed and the result of the contest will go on both men’s professional records.
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News Summary:
- ‘He is a specimen’ – Francis Ngannou delivers ruthless Mike Tyson prediction to Jake Paul’s face
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