Former unified world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has teased that he would be up for stepping into the ring with Jake Paul in the future. The man known as 'The Lion' last fought back in 2003 as he defeated an up-and-coming Vitali Klitschko to retain his WBC, IBO, and The Ring belts.
Over two decades on from his final contest, the 58-year-old still clearly keeps a watchful eye over developments in the boxing world. As the YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul prepares to face off against Mike Tyson in November, it appears that Lewis has not been able to resist imagining donning his gloves once again in a professional capacity.
With 'Iron Mike' set to be 58-years-old by the time he steps in the ring at Dallas' AT&T Stadium later this year, the legend may set the precedent for stars of yesteryear making comebacks. In the case of Tyson, who is due to fight for a first time since 2005, his return has already been delayed after he suffered a medical episode on a flight in May.
The original July 20 date has now been scrapped for the event. However, Lewis already has an eye on being the next fighter to face Paul after the re-scheduled bout in winter, as he told Fox 29 Philadelphia: "That’s a good question. I hope that Tyson saves a little bit of Jake Paul for me.
"Mike Tyson’s gonna win," he predicted of the man he beat back in 2002. "Mike Tyson’s not that old. Don’t take him too softly. We’re one year apart. You can fight somebody like that and do well because the person you’re fighting is not a true fighter and there’s a hundred things that you’ve forgotten that he’s learning."
Well-versed in the threat posed by the 'Baddest Man on the Planet' Lewis said: "[The age] will be a little bit of a determining factor if the fight goes on too long, but if they get close and Mike Tyson comes with his ten-second combination, if one of those punches catches him he’s definitely gonna go down."
The British-born combat sports icon previously admitted that he would never say never when it comes to a return to the boxing ring, telling The Guardian: "As my friend says, I ain’t no fool. I was seeing if I could catch you out there. For me, money talks, [..] walks. That’s what I’m saying. I’d 100 per cent consider it."
After his fight with Tyson was pushed back to later in the year, Paul has wasted no time in finding a new adversary for the original date of the bout with 'Iron Mike'. After agreeing to face Mike Perry, he said: "When Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled, I knew immediately that I wanted to still fight on Saturday, July 20.
"Now, as I prepare for my fight against Iron Mike, there’s no better opponent for me than Mike Perry. He’s a proven knockout artist who has shown to be a maniac in and out of the ring. This is the perfect experience for me to gain in advance of facing Mike Tyson."
He added: "But getting that experience comes with risk. Those who know me know I’m a risk taker and while ‘Platinum’ Perry might try to end me, I’m Titanium Jake Paul and I fear no man. I’m going to get the W and give everyone a preview of what I’m bringing to the ring against Mike Tyson.
"Tune in on DAZN PPV as I return to Tampa and send ‘Platinum’ Perry the Platypus back to bare knuckle for good."
