‘Why do you want to go in at five per cent of what you were and lose to a guy like Jake Paul?’: Eddie Hearn insists Tyson should NOT be fighting and risk losing when he is a shadow of his former self | HO

Eddie Hearn insists Mike Tyson should NOT be fighting and claims it’s ‘really sad’ that the former heavyweight champion has agreed to return to the ring to face Jake Paul

Eddie Hearn believes it will be ‘really sad’ to see Mike Tyson return to the ring later this year against YouTube-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Tyson announced on Thursday afternoon that he will take on Paul in Dallas, Texas on July 20, with the fight due to be aired live on Netflix.

The two-time heavyweight champion retired back in 2005, but is set to make a sensational comeback. Yet British promoter Hearn is not excited by the prospect of seeing Tyson fight again.

‘For me it’s really sad because Mike Tyson was one of my idols growing up, and to see him fighting at 57, 58… but I also understand that a lot of people are going to tune in and watch,’ Hearn told Mail Sport.

‘It’s an entertainment event, Netflix, great to see them involved in boxing. I think it will do really well. But it’s just not really one for me.’

Paul is 30 years younger than Tyson and has been fighting regularly in recent years, building up a record of nine wins and just one defeat against Tommy Fury.

Tyson had an exhibition bout with fellow boxing icon Roy Jones Jr in 2020, but has not had a competitive fight in almost two decades.

He has remained in good condition in recent years, and has posted training clips of himself on the pads and working the heavy bag.

He also trained Francis Ngannou for his fight with Tyson Fury in October, and almost guided the former UFC champion to a shock win.

But despite continuing to be involved in the sport, Hearn is adamant that Tyson should not get back in the squared circle and risk losing when he is a shadow of his former self.

‘I don’t think you should be fighting at 57 years old. But also the guy was one of the greatest ever fighters,’ Hearn continued.

‘Why do you want to go in at five per cent of what you were and lose to a guy like Jake Paul?

‘He shouldn’t have to do that, but the world is the world we live in.’
READ MORE: ‘NO BITING’: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul rules revealed… with Iron Mike forced to pass several tests before being allowed take part in the fight | HO

The rules for Jake Paul‘s clash with Mike Tyson in Arlington Texas on July 20 have been announced.

Paul and Tyson have announced that they will fight in Dallas live on Netflix in what is being dubbed the ‘biggest fight of the 21st century’.

It marks a sensational return to the ring for Tyson who will be 58 by the time he fights the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer nicknamed ‘The Problem Child’.

The fight between Paul and Tyson is being held at the 80,000-seater AT&T Stadium in Texas, which is the home of NFL team Dallas Cowboys.

Several details surrounding the fight – which both boxer’s want sanctioned as a professional bout – remain unclear, but the rules have been announced.

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, who has a 9-1 record with six KOs, will fight in Texas on July 20

The high-profile fight will take place with no headgear, with Tyson the heavy favorite to win

The majority of the rules – other than the glove weight – are the same as when Tyson took on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in November 2020

Paul and Tyson will be wearing 16-ounce boxing gloves instead of the traditional 10-ounce gloves used in professional fights.

Two-minute rounds will be in place instead of the usual three-minute rounds and there will be no official judges ringside to score the fight.

The only way either Paul or Iron Mike could win the fight would be if there was a knockout on the night.

The majority of the rules – other than the glove weight – are the same as when Tyson took on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in November 2020.

As it stands, the undercard for the bout between Paul and Tyson has not yet been discussed.

Speaking about the undercard, Tela Mange, Communications Manager for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, said it’s not ‘unusual’ to secure a date and venue before proposing the fighters.

‘It’s pretty common for a promoter to request a date several months out but not immediately provide the proposed card,’ Mange told USA Today Sports.

‘They want to be sure that they’ve secured the date with us, since we’ll have to make sure we have appropriate staffing available for any event.

‘The promoter will need to submit proposed cards before we determine whether a particular contest would be considered as an exhibition or a professional fight, or how a proposed exhibition might be structured.’

Mange also revealed how fighters over 36 are required to pass a electroencephalogram (EEG) and an electrocardiogram (EKG) to be cleared to fight in the ring.

Tyson showed fans that he’s still go it at age 57 as he prepares for his first fight since 2020