Three Predictions For Anticipated Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Showdown

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, the unlikeliest of foes, will meet face-to-face for a long-awaited fight at AT&T Stadium on Friday night.

Paul, 27, a YouTuber turned amateur boxer has worked for years to gain respect and validation from professional fighters. He’s gone up against fellow YouTubers, UFC fighters such as Tyron Woodley and Nate Diaz, and has now booked a once-in-a-lifetime date with Tyson. Paul’s made a living garnering recognition from a cult-like fanbase salivating for controversy, but this fight isn’t like any other.

Tyson, although 58 years old and 19 years removed from retirement, is still the man who bit Evan Holyfield’s ear off, offered a zookeeper $10,000 so he could fight a gorilla, and recorded 44 wins by way of knockout across 58 career fights. To the common man — or YouTuber — Tyson, in some ways, isn’t human.

“Iron Mike” mopped the ring mat with Michael Spinks and Carl “The Truth” Williams, humbling them each with first-round knockouts. So… long story, short. There’s nothing Paul, a WWE-like character, can show Tyson that the once-most feared man in boxing, hasn’t already seen in the past four decades.

“I’m bringing the devil himself,” Tyson, who slapped Paul during Thursday’s weigh-in, said Tuesday, per ESPN. “… My own mother should be very careful if she has to get in the ring with me. When it’s over, it’s over. But while the process is going on, my intention is to hurt him. I hope he has the same intentions, or he is in trouble.”

A bit over the top? Well, that’s Tyson.

Here are three predictions before Tyson and Paul square off in Texas:

Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) destroys Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) in under five rounds
Sure, it’s a bold stance to take.

However, assuming this isn’t some scripted plot for Tyson and Paul to monetize the hype they’ve built up for months now, these two don’t belong in a ring together. Paul’s managed to make an unlikely career shift from YouTube personality to cringe rapper to “boxer,” but it’s not as if Tyson’s sat down for the past 19-plus years doing nothing.

Tyson fought Roy Jones Jr. four years ago at 210 pounds, settling for a split decision in an eight-round battle. Even pushing 60 years of age, Tyson’s punching power and presumed ambition to prove himself aren’t to be underestimated. Paul will meet Tyson fighting at a career-high 220 pounds — Tyson weighed in at 223 pounds.

Historically — and logically — speaking, there’s no reason for Tyson to falter.

Both sides will agree to a rematch
It could be immediately after the fight or a few months down the line, but as the saying goes, money talks.

Tyson earned $10 million for going eight rounds with Jones in 2020 as the event generated over $80 million through its 1.6 million pay-per-view sales. Paul, on the other hand, made less than half a million during his latest fight — against Mike Perry — while the fight sold less than 67,000 pay-per-view sales. Getting an icon like Tyson is surely a game changer, therefore, if the two could fetch big-time numbers, there’s no reason to walk away without a part two or possibly three, right?

Paul, for entertainment purposes, aims to bite Tyson’s ear
Whether it’ll go well or not is up for debate, but being that Paul is performative above anything else, one must expect a trick or two up his sleeve.

Paul already trolled Tyson’s controversial ear-biting of 1997 by purchasing a $100,000 diamond ear covering in case Tyson plans to give him the Holyfield. It’s extremely unlikely for theatrics to not make its way into Friday night, so fans expecting an all-boxing clash should consider lowering their expectations. Vince McMahon may not be behind the curtain pulling the strings here but neither is Oscar De La Hoya or Don King.

“I fear no man,” Paul told reporters Wednesday, per ESPN. “I want him to be that old savage Mike. He says he’s going to kill me. I’m ready. I want that killer. I want the hardest match possible Friday night, and I want there to be no excuses from everyone at home when I knock him out.”

“The Problem Child” might have a problem he can’t rap his way out of in 24 hours.