Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to face off in a controversial boxing match this weekend. The fight will be broadcast live on Netflix, featuring eight two-minute rounds.
Tyson, the former youngest heavyweight world champion, is now almost 60 years old. He hasn't had a professional fight since 2005 and ended his career with back-to-back losses. On the other side of the ring, Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned boxer, has 11 fights under his belt. Paul's wins have come mainly against older pros and ex-MMA stars. He lost on points to boxing novice Tommy Fury in 2023.
The public's opinion on this matchup is split down the middle. With little over a day left before the fight, another heavyweight champion has thrown his hat into the ring.
Shannon Briggs, who grew up with Tyson in Brownsville, New York, has announced his intention to fight Jake Paul if Paul defeats Tyson. Briggs, a former heavyweight champion himself, has notable wins over George Foreman and has faced Lennox Lewis and Vitali Klitschko.
In an interview with talkSPORT Boxing, Briggs made his intentions clear:
"I'm not retired, it's just that nobody wants to fight me. I'm not retired I'm just inactive cause they scared, know what I'm saying? They sacred of me champ, for real."
Briggs also laid out his plans for the near future:
"I'm gonna fight in March, I'm gonna fight in March, yeah. If Jake beats Mike, I'm gonna avenge Mike and knock Jake out cold. If Mike loses, I gotta fight for the neighbourhood, you hear me."
Briggs hasn't fought since 2016 when he beat Emilio Zarate. He insists he's not retired, just inactive. While it seems unlikely that Briggs will get a fight with Paul at this point, boxing has seen its fair share of unexpected matchups in recent years.
As the clock ticks down to the Tyson-Paul showdown, fans and critics alike wait to see how this unconventional matchup will unfold.
