Mike Tyson Reveals Motivation Behind Facing Jake Paul, Heavyweight Boxing Legend Awaits Rescheduled Bout with YouTuber
Mike Tyson, the legendary heavyweight boxer, has unveiled his reasons for stepping into the ring with YouTuber Jake Paul. The much-anticipated bout between the 58-year-old Tyson and the 27-year-old Paul was originally scheduled for Saturday, July 20th, but has been postponed due to Tyson suffering from a stomach ulcer during a flight in May. This health scare led to the official professional fight being delayed until November, with Paul set to face former UFC fighter Mike Perry this weekend instead.
Paul, boasting a 9-1 record as a professional boxer, will take on the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. The rescheduled match between Paul and Tyson is now planned for November 15th at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
In an interview with Esquire, when asked about his motivation for fighting Paul, Tyson turned to his team and asked, “Can I be honest?” The former world champion then candidly told the interviewer, “I don’t think he can hurt me.
“[And] I’m a glory addict. I love people thinking about me all day. I’d rather live a short life of glory than a long life in obscurity. That’s just who I am.
“This is everything I started fighting for: to get all this damn status. I’ll be chasing it for the rest of my life, I know that. I’ll never get what I want because I’m one of those painfully greedy guys. I can never have enough.”
The fight against Paul will mark Tyson’s first match since his 2020 exhibition draw with Roy Jones Jr. Before that bout, Tyson last competed professionally in 2006, retiring from boxing.
The announcement of Tyson versus Paul has sparked widespread criticism since its reveal earlier this year. In an unprecedented move, the fight will be streamed live on Netflix, adding to the spectacle and controversy surrounding the event.
As fans and critics alike prepare for what promises to be a unique and highly publicized showdown, Tyson’s candid remarks offer a glimpse into the psyche of a man who continues to chase the spotlight and the glory that comes with it, even in the twilight of his storied career.
