Eddie Hearn brands Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight 'a freak show' as boxing promoter fires 'travesty' warning
Boxing: Eddie Hearn believes Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight is a 'freak show'
PA
Eddie Hearn believes Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight is a 'freak show'.
And the boxing promoter also believes it will be a 'travesty' if Iron Mike is defeated via knockout when they finally do battle on November 15.
Controversy has surrounded the bout ever since it was first announced in March.
Tyson and Paul actually intended to fight on July 20 only for the showdown to be delayed after the boxing icon suffered a health scare following an ulcer flare up.
Boxing: Eddie Hearn believes Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight is a 'freak show'
PA
Hearn has been critical of the fight right from the beginning.
And the boxing promoter, speaking to The Sun, has now doubled down while warning that Tyson crashing to defeat would be a 'travesty' for the sport.
"I don’t think there’s one boxing person that really wants this fight to happen," he said.
“So they’re looking at it from a different angle, they’re looking at it from numbers, they’re looking to it for hype and I get it.
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"I understand that this freak show may well do good numbers.
“But, I think if you genuinely care about the sport and the history of the sport and particularly the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time, it’s not something you’d ever consider.
“But, I understand their strategy and the business and if it does numbers, they don’t really care how it looks in terms of the empathy of it.
“I don’t think it’s ever something you’d see a real boxing person get involved with.”
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Tyson will be taking part in his first fight since his draw with Roy Jones Jr four years ago.
As for Paul, the 27-year-old recently beat Mike Perry to showcase his credentials as he battles to come out on top.
Hearn admits that the current generation are part of a 'different world'.
And he's hoping that Tyson manages to emerge unscathed from the clash as he puts his legacy on the line.
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Boxing: Eddie Hearn says it will be a 'travesty' if Mike Tyson loses to Jake Paul via knockout
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“It’s just a different world isn’t it? This new generation," he continued.
“But good luck to him, I’m sure it will do good numbers and hopefully Mike Tyson doesn’t get hurt because it would be a travesty for boxing.”
Tyson, meanwhile, insists he's prepared for the bout - while the boxing icon also hinted his family aren't too pleased with his decision to return to the ring.
“I’m just looking forward to this. This is something that I would say ignites me," he told Fox earlier this week.
Boxing: Eddie Hearn believes the current generation are part of a 'different world' ahead of Jake Paul's clash with Mike Tyson
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"It just gives me a life for myself. It’s life within myself. It’s just me doing what I wanna do.
“Forget everybody else. Forget if they wish I’d lose, win, or… it’s about me doing what I wanna do.
“Forget what my wife and kids are, like, thinking about just this one moment, just stick with me and don’t feel sorry for me. Don’t worry about me. That’s all.”