It's one of the most controversial fights in boxing history, but Lennox Lewis has ignored the naysayers and given his verdict on who will win out of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson
Lennox Lewis backed Mike Tyson to win his controversial boxing clash against Jake Paul - and he is not the only fighting legend who has done so.
The world of combat sports has been split by the upcoming bout between 27-year-old Paul and the 57-year-old former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Deontay Wilder has been among the boxing figures to condemn the bout for its recklessness in letting Tyson, who has not fought professionally since 2004, step into the ring again.
Lewis, who knocked out Iron Mike in the eighth round of their iconic clash in 2002, admitted he is excited to see his former rival return to the squared circle. There have been numerous warnings about the dangers of Tyson returning to boxing.
However, Lewis and many others think Tyson- will be the one with his arm raised at the end of the match.
During a previous interview with the Guardian, the Brit said the only worries he has in regards of danger is for Paul. Lewis said: “I’m concerned for Jake Paul. Tyson still knows how to punch, as you can see when he’s hitting a bag.
"If Jake Paul gets hit by one of those punches, he’s going to feel it. I know Jake Paul doesn’t want to get hit. Tyson comes forward and he knows how to cut off the ring. It could be a matter of time, as how good is Jake Paul’s defence?
"I saw Mike a couple of weeks ago and he looked good. He was walking around without a shirt and showing off his body so he’s getting ready. I’m looking forward to it because you’ve got to look at these guys as entertainers. The public love them and want to see them in action.”
Lewis and Paul will be fighting in Texas' 80,000 capacity AT&T Stadium on July 20, 2024. The fight will count against both fighters' record due to it being sanctioned as a professional boxing match by Texan authorities.
Despite numerous tests being carried out to ensure both Tyson and Paul are able to safely compete, Wilder admitted he is worried for the boxing icon. In an interview with Sportsbook Review, the former WBC heavyweight champion said: "I think it's bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn't been active in 20 years, so they should not just licence him because of who he is, that's how people get hurt, god forbid he gets hurt.
"People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there's lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It's easy to do. He's too old for this. At the end of the day, no one gives a f*** about Mike.
"We can talk about the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they don't give a f***. I don't think anyone cares about Mike because if they did they wouldn't sanction the fight."
As Wilder's concerns begin to crow, former unified super-middleweight champion and British boxing legend Carl Froch has also lent his backing to Tyson. Froch, who has also called out Paul on multiple occasions, is less than convinced by the ex-YouTuber's ability in the ring.
"I'm not worried about Mike Tyson, Jake Paul cannot fight," Froch told Lord Ping. "None of his knockouts are legitimate. His knockouts were against opponents who didn't know what they were doing.
"He's f*****g useless; his technique, style, balance, offence, defence, the way he sets up his punches - he cannot fight. Mike is going to be absolutely fine."
Another fighter who has been left frustrated by the clash between Tyson and Paul is the new undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian, who recently overcame Tyson Fury to become the first heavyweight to hold all the belts since Lewis, did not appear to be too impressed with Paul's boxing endeavours.
During a promotional video for his bout against the Gypsy King, Usyk played a word association game where he said the first thing that came to his mind when a boxing name was mentioned. When Paul came up, the 37-year-old bluntly said: "Stop boxing".
Tyson and Paul will be fighting as heavyweights in Texas. The ex-YouTuber has piled on the weight and the muscle, transforming his body from 199.8lb when he beat Ryan Bourland to 230lbs.
Paul commands a 9-1 boxing record with six of his victories coming by way of knockout. Meanwhile, Tyson's record stands at 50-6, with 44 of his victories coming by way of knockout.
Despite the huge age gap and Paul's body transformation, it appears boxing's biggest stars have Tyson as the favourite. Many fans of the sport may watch the fight through their fingers but, rightly or wrongly, it looks set to command the eyeballs of the world.
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