With security and fight teams ensuring there was no funny business, Mike Tyson playfully punched Jake Paul in the stomach at his pre-fight press conference in New York, possibly the least controversial press conference of Tyson’s career.
“Iron” Mike won’t be kidding when they step into the ring on July 20. AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, will be the ideal venue, while Netflix will have the honor of hosting what could be the biggest streaming ever. event in the history of the company.
There was a unique atmosphere in the Apollo Theater as Paul and Tyson came and went. It is Tyson’s first professional fight since 2005, when he lost to Kevin McBride. He fought Roy Jones Jr. to a draw in a 2020 exhibition. This time, the contest against Paul, a YouTuber with a 9-1 boxing record, will go towards his professional record.
The animal hasn’t been removed from Tyson in a while, but it appears Paul made it escape from its cage.
“I really like Jake, but once we’re in that ring, he’s going to have to fight like his life depends on it, because it will,” Tyson said.
Paul lost to Tommy Fury to open 2023, the first professional boxer he faced. “The Problem Child” won three in a row, with two fights against boxers of the same experience. There wasn’t much interest in fighting unknown fans of his, so Paul stepped up and booked what many have perceived as a circus show.
By the time Paul, 27, faces Tyson, the latter will be 58. Tyson has said that his body, while beautiful, feels in bad shape. Still, Tyson is Tyson, and power is the last thing to go. Paul understands this but feels that he has enough in his arsenal to defeat Tyson and even survive a possible attack.
“Everyone else is underestimating me,” Paul said. “I think I hit harder. I know it’s going to be difficult, I know I’ll have to fight through adversity. I know I might even go to the mat. I’m scared, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not about fear stopping me. It’s about going into it even if you’re afraid. That’s what true bravery is.
“They call him ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson but I’m ‘Titanium’ Jake Paul.”
More than 120,000 registered in the pre-sale of this fight. Part of the reason was Paul vs. Tyson. Another factor was the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. The sequel to the 2022 Fight of the Year at Madison Square Garden, this time for undisputed super lightweight gold, helped balance the card, giving boxing fans a feeling of class.
Taylor, who successfully defended her status as undisputed lightweight champion against Serrano in a back-and-forth opener, was dazzled with Tyson by her side. “The Bray Bomber” fought three times after the Serrano contest, finishing 2-1, sharing wins and losses against Chantelle Cameron for the 140-pound titles.
It was only the second weight class Taylor had conquered. Meanwhile, Serrano, the unified featherweight champion, won gold in seven weight classes. How does Taylor feel about her new weight?
“Many fighters gain and lose weight. “I feel very strong at this weight,” Taylor said. “The last time Amanda and I fought, it was an epic fight, an iconic fight, in front of 20,000 people at Madison Square Garden. It felt like all of Puerto Rico and Ireland were there that night. “Now we can do it in front of 100,000 people.”
Serrano, sporting a Knicks jersey in New York, assured fight fans that her eyelid is fine after a mishap with her stylist canceled a fight in Puerto Rico against Nina Meinke. He has been pursuing the story since the fight with Taylor, thanks in part to his business relationship with Paul. “The Real Deal” she relinquished the WBC featherweight title due to the WBC’s stance against women’s boxing competing in twelve three-minute rounds, sending a message.
The 35-year-old moved from super flyweight (115) to lightweight (135). The 126-pound champion needs to gain about 14 pounds for this fight. It’s a tough challenge for Serrano in itself, but she’s motivated.
“Listen, everyone knows I’m the unified featherweight champion. I’ve said it many times, anything about that. [weight], it’s difficult to me. Obviously [at] 135, i [didn’t get the win against Katie]but for the opportunity to fight Katie Taylor. [again]I took the fight [at] 140. His team said, “you have to do it at 140.” I really want the fight. The fight is for the fans, that’s why greatness requires sacrifice,” Serrano said.
“So once again, I am sacrificing my body. I’m sacrificing everything to go up three pisions. The last time there were two pisions. I think I won. I hurt Katie. I think that by moving up another pision I can do the same. My power was going to come with me, and this is a great opportunity for both of us, and it is what it is. I just have to eat more. “I’m Latina, so I eat a lot more rice.”
Taylor and Serrano left room for a trilogy, which fight fans have salivated over since the first contest.
It seemed like a normal press conference. However, with what’s at stake in both fights, fight night will be anything but. There is still another press event, and we are just a few months away from one of the most important events, despite its detractors, in boxing history.
