Jake Paul receives sparring invitation ahead of controversial Mike Tyson fight

Jake Paul receives sparring invitation ahead of controversial Mike Tyson fight

WATCH NOW: Netflix trailer for Jake Paul and Mike Tyson fight

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 27/05/2024

- 12:40

The two men will face off on July 20

Boxing star Cheavon Clarke has revealed he'd be open to sparring with Jake Paul as the 27-year-old prepares to face Mike Tyson later this year.

Fans from all over the world have been scrutinising the showdown due to the huge 30-year age gap between the two fighters.


But it's currently set to go ahead as planned, with Paul piling on the pounds to ensure he's capable of coping with a heavyweight icon like Tyson.

Paul was once offered to fight Clarke, who now has a 7-0 record in the sport.

Jake Paul

Jake Paul is preparing to fight Mike Tyson later this year

REUTERS

The American said he'd be up for the bout, though nothing has ever materialised in the time since.

And Clarke, speaking to the Daily Express, says he's ready to spar with Paul - despite their history.

"Listen... he's a great YouTuber. All credit to him. But I am a great fighter. There is a massive difference," he told the newspaper.

"He was offered to fight me when I was 1-0 and he said he would send the offer... I'm not sure if he sent it by pigeon or something, maybe you guys know? We're still waiting on that.

"He doesn't want to fight me, he knows how that would go... But I'd happily spar him and give him some lessons before he goes in and faces Tyson!"

Cheavon Clarke

Cheavon Clarke is prepared to spar with Jake Paul ahead of the American's battle with Mike Tyson later this year

GETTY

Many aren't giving Tyson a serious chance of winning.

He will be 58 by the time the fight takes place, with age set to play a huge part in determining the outcome of the clash.

Yet Clarke doesn't believe Tyson will have any issues, despite his last fight being against Roy Jones Jr in 2020.

In his eyes, Tyson winning is already a formality.

"When Mike Tyson's beats his a** in the ring, when he knocks him out... all that talking might be done," he added.

Meanwhile, Carl Froch has condemned Tyson and Paul for agreeing to fight.

He insists the showdown should be sanctioned as an exhibition, instead of a professional fight.

And Froch also thinks the battle will be scripted, too. Speaking to Safebettingsites.co.uk, he said: "The Jake Paul - Mike Tyson fight shouldn’t be happening at all, it’s not a professional boxing match, it’s an exhibition.

"From what I’m hearing with the contracts, allegedly, he gets paid less if he wins in round one, Tyson, or if he gets a knockout he gets paid even less.

"There’s restrictions in his contract based on how he wins.

"I don’t know if it’s been confirmed, but I’ve read somewhere that there’s a clause in his contract that means he’s going to earn less money if he goes out there and destroys Jake Paul.

"Because that’s Mike Tyson’s chance, isn’t it?

"Comes out, still got all of his power, still got his punching power, still feel strong, can still throw a few decent punches, but his fitness and cardiovascular endurance is pretty much gone, his reflexes are shot to bits, he’s got no real timing, he can’t extend and he hasn’t got the speed to land shots.

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Mike Tyson

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson have both been criticised for agreeing to their boxing match

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"So the best chance Mike Tyson’s got is to get on Jake Paul or Jake Paul tries to grab hold of him and push him off, manhandle him and f***ing smash him on the side of the head.

"Mike Tyson has got a chance early on at the start of the fight if he connects, so I reckon Jake Paul is a massive favourite in a shambles of an exhibition which I think shouldn’t be happening."

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