Mike Tyson is ready to fight again despite his age and a recent health scare.
The 58-year-old boxing legend said Sunday that he plans to go through with his postponed bout with Jake Paul, despite the significant risks it may pose to his health.
“Because I can. Who else can do it but me? Who else is he going to fight to make this happen?” Tyson said.
Fans cheered the former heavyweight champion at the news conference and booed Paul, according to ESPN. The two were scheduled to fight at AT&T Stadium in July, but the fight was postponed after Tyson became nauseous and dizzy on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May.
His representatives later attributed the episode to an ulcer problem.
The bout is now scheduled to take place Nov. 15 at the 80,000-seat home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
“We’ve just got to listen to the facts. We’ve got a YouTuber fighting the greatest fighter that ever lived.”
Paul (9-1, 6 KOs) beat bare-knuckle fighting champion Mike Perry in the sixth round on July 20. Before that he had back-to-back knockouts against Golden Glove winners Ryan Bourland on March 2 and Andre August in December 2023.
But Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs), a legendary figure in the sport and former undisputed world heavyweight champion, figures to be his biggest challenge yet.
Tyson, who retired in 2005 before coming back for an exhibition match against Roy Jones in 2020, said he resumed training two or three weeks ago and feels fine.
“Big moments, big pressure, big stages, one of the greatest to ever do it, more experience than me, more fights than me, I’m going to learn a lot in this fight and through this training camp,” Paul said. “So, this is helping me in my future fights and everything that I want to accomplish.”
The fight that will stream on Netflix will be an official bout, though contested with eight two-minute rounds and heavier gloves than usual.
