Boxing legend Mike Tyson has been told he should be anywhere near a ring ahead of his fight against Jake Paul.
‘Iron Mike’ is making a boxing return on July 20 when he faces social media sensation Jake Paul at Texas’ 80,000 seat AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. Both Paul and Tyson want the fight to be sanctioned as a professional bout but that decision will be made by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations.
There will be over a 30-year age difference between Paul and Tyson on fight night and fans have voiced their concern for ‘Iron Mike’ after several of his recent training videos went viral. Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan is among those who have criticised the fight as he thinks Tyson shouldn’t be taking blows to the head at his age.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight on July 20 in Texas
“You can be sure money’s got something to do with it,” McGuigan told The Sun. “The governing body should be seriously badly reprimanded for that, getting a 57-year-old guy in to box. That’s just really stupid and irresponsible. He shouldn’t be near a boxing ring at 57 years old. It’s just very irresponsible. It’s very dangerous.
“The problem with so many of these influencers boxing is that the general public think anybody can do it. They can’t. That’s what annoys the professional fighters about these influencers.” McGuigan’s son Shane, who coaches the likes of Adam Azim and Daniel Dubois, also took aim at Paul for fighting Tyson well out of his prime.