WATCH: Mike Tyson Shocks Fans With Face Slap to Jake Paul in Thrilling Final Showdown!

Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul has spotlight of sports world. legendary boxer, considered one of greatest athletes of all time, will face YouTuber Jake Paul. During ir final face-off ahe of bout, Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul, and people around m separated m, making m both contestants. 

Mike Tyson concedes role of villain to young foe in 58-year-old’s fight with Jake Paul

Friendship is at heart of how a fight came toger between 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Friction helped build hype for a bout that is testing formula for how boxing is delivered to masses, a first-ever combat sports offering from streaming platform Netflix rar than pay-per-view or tritional cable.

“I think y’re beloved fans of Mike Tyson,” Paul said, trying to explain boisterous boos that have greeted him when two have appeared toger in recent months to hype event.

“And I’m new kid on block, disrupter, loud mouth, polarizing figure,” Paul said. “And I’ve built my career as heel. Naturally people want to root against me, and that’s great for sport of boxing.”

Tyson’s first sanctioned professional fight in almost 20 years is set for Friday night at home of NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. A crowd of at least 60,000 is expected while Netflix offers bout at no ditional cost to more than 280 million subscribers globally.

27-year-old Paul is relatively new to sport, one-time social media influencer bringing a 10-1 record with seven knockouts mostly against mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.

Asked about friendship earlier in week, Tyson said, “re’s no feeling attached.” He proved it by slapping Paul as y faced off following weigh-in Thursday night.

Tyson appeared to take offense to way Paul approached him for faceoff, but didn’t bor explaining. “ talk is over,” Tyson, who checked in at 228 pounds, said when one of hosts tried to ask a question.

“Now it’s personal,” 

Paul screamed into a microphone before storming off stage. Paul weighed 227 pounds.

Tyson was 50-6 with 44 knockouts when he retired after losing to Kevin McBride in 2005, saying he didn’t have anything left to give sport. He last fought in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. with no fans during pandemic in 2020.

A fight originally scheduled for July 20 was postponed when Tyson h to be treated for a stomach ulcer after falling ill on a flight.

Tyson said in a documentary chronicling preparations for fight that he lost 26 pounds in process of recovering.

Promoter Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions with Paul, said Tyson was cleared medically weeks ago. Bidarian sidestepped a question of how concerned he was for Tyson’s health once he steps in ring.

“I’m nervous for both men,” Bidarian said. “ reality is Jake’s never been hit by someone like Mike Tyson flush on chin. And Mike hasn’t fought someone like Jake for a very long time. That’s what makes this interesting.”

Paul said he h a vision for fight about two years ago and shared it with Tyson because he thought Hall of Famer would understand — and be interested. It took about that long for bout to come toger.

Tyson appeared agitated at both hype events with fans in Dallas area, first in weeks before originally scheduled fight and again at a news conference two nights before bout.

He was more reflective in a smaller setting with reporters, suggesting he wasn’t same foul-moud, scowling fighter from his prime.

“I’ve been through so many ups and downs since my last fight with Kevin McBride,” Tyson said. “I’ve been in rehab. I’ve been in prison, been locked up. Never in a million years did I believe I’d be doing this.”

According to reports, Paul will get $40 million for fight, a number he mentioned at anor news conference in New York in August.

Tyson, who h two stints in prison over convictions in 1990s for rape and assault and declared bankruptcy 21 years ago, will get $20 million. Tyson has said he isn’t doing fight for money.

“That old Mike Tyson ... he doesn’t have no more purpose in my life. He just doesn’t exist,” Tyson said. “I’m having a good time in my life. I don’t have much time left, so I’m having best time of my life.”

Several states wouldn’t sanction bout. Texas agreed to a fight that was eight rounds inste of 10 or 12, with two-minute rounds inste of three, and heavier gloves designed to lessen power of punches.

Paul has faced persistent questions about why he would fight someone so much older, regardless of Tyson’s pedigree. His answers have been consistent.

“I say talk to Mike and tell Mike that,” Paul said. “He’s one that wanted it to be a pro fight and me, as a young person in this sport, is not going to (pass) up opportunity to fight GOAT of boxing. It’s like Ja Morant turning down a 1-v-1 against LeBron. It’s not going to happen.”

re is a high-profile championship fight on card — co-main event of Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano.

Paul said he wanted to give women a spotlight after ir slugfest at sold-out Mison Square Garden in 2022. It was first time women helined a boxing event at famous venue.

Taylor won a split decision that many questioned. Bidarian and Paul say rematch for undisputed super lightweight title will be most lucrative women’s sporting event in history.

“A lot of people said real main event is Taylor-Serrano,” Bidarian said. “I’m OK if you feel that way. Jake has said he’s more excited about that fight than his own fight. But we wanted to ensure most eyeballs got to see that fight. To be quite honest with ourselves, Paul-Tyson draws a bigger audience.”

(AP)