Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are getting ready to face each other in the ring on November 15. The match between the former heavyweight champion and the YouTuber-turned-boxer has got everyone talking.
Evander Holyfield, who fought Tyson twice in the 1990s, shared his thoughts on the upcoming bout. Holyfield knows Tyson's style well, having beaten him by knockout in their first fight and then being on the receiving end of Tyson's infamous ear bite in the rematch.
Holyfield told Fight Hub TV that Paul's best chance is to stay close to Tyson:
"I don't know how much confidence that Jake Paul has and all of that, but he's gonna be a lot quicker. If he stays close to Mike then his chance of winning is going to be great, but if he tries to stay back from Mike he's going to get caught."
The former champ explained why trying to keep distance from Tyson could be dangerous:
"Mike is like a snake. He'll pop out on you. He gets there too quick. But if you charge him, you're going to smother him. He push off his legs so he's too close, but if you give him room everybody gets knocked out going backwards. Give him room and you're gonna be messed up."
Holyfield, who briefly coached Paul at his gym, raised questions about the YouTuber's ability to take a punch:
"The point about it is does Jake Paul take a good shot? I never seen him get hit by nobody. That's it … It may be over cause he ain't probably never fought nobody that punch like Mike."
Interestingly, Holyfield brought up the possibility of either fighter quitting in the ring. He reminded everyone that Tyson retired on his stool in his last professional fight against Kevin McBride nearly 20 years ago:
"You never know, just like Mike quit in the ring. He got tired and just quit and just sat down – 'I'm done.'"
Holyfield and Tyson's rivalry is well-documented, with their rematch being one of boxing's most infamous moments. Now, all eyes are on how Tyson will perform against a much younger opponent in Jake Paul.
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As the November 15 date gets closer, fight fans are gearing up for what promises to be an intriguing matchup between two very different boxers.