Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight branded a 'complete shambles' as Ricky Hatton vents fury
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will be fighting on July 20 despite a strong backlash
REUTERS
Ricky Hatton has branded Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight a 'complete shambles', with the two men still set to fight later this year.
Tyson had a health scare at the start of the week, though has since insisted he's feeling '100 per cent'.
It will be the boxing icon's first fight since his draw with Roy Jones Jr back in 2020.
But many are fearful that Iron Mike, at the age of 58, could suffer a devastating injury during the bout.
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight has been labelled a 'complete shambles'
REUTERS
Hatton, speaking to Lord Ping, has admitted he's unhappy about the fight - branding it a 'complete shambles'.
"It’s an absolute joke," he fumed.
"I think it’s a complete shambles to be honest with you. Someone needs to have a word and try and stop it from happening.
"I’ve always said that the influencer fighting game is entertainment, and I’ve never really had an issue with influencer boxing; UFC fighters fighting boxers, YouTubers fighting rappers, whatever it is.
"If people want to watch it, then that’s fine. Let’s call it what it is, entertainment.
"There’s room for both boxing and influencer boxing as long as the big fights keep getting made.
"YouTubers fighting isn’t hurting the sport of boxing, boxing is hurting boxing because big fights aren’t happening.
"I don’t begrudge anyone making a few quid. Good luck to the likes of Tommy Fury, KSI, Jake Paul, whoever, but this fight is a complete fiasco.
"Someone needs to intervene and take it out of their hands. Money talks in the entertainment business, but come on!
"To be honest, Mike is looking good for his 58 years – I wouldn’t mind looking like him at that age – he looks explosive.
"Trust me, if he can hit Jake Paul on the chin, he’ll knock him into the middle of next week.
"I’ve seen Tyson on the pads, and he looks sharp, but he’s 58. Can he maintain it? At his age, your body isn’t conditioned to take the punishment that will be coming back to you.
"As for Jake Paul, if he were to knock him out, he’ll be knocking out one of his heroes.
"How could he live with that on his conscience? It doesn’t matter how much money is involved, how would you be able to look at yourself in the mirror?
"I think it’s completely crazy. It’s a joke. Nothing surprises me in the boxing and entertainment business.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul will put their friendship aside when they fight on July 20
REUTERS
"I don’t mind the influencers doing their thing, I don’t mind the exhibition fights when the matchups are even, but this one is on another level completely."
Hatton also says Tyson is capable of knocking out Paul, despite the 57-year-old being likely to be rusty.
"He's very, very capable doing it [knocking out Paul]," he continued.
"I’m just thinking to myself that there’s every chance Paul could knock him out because of the difference in age and nobody would want to see that.
"Who wants to see one of the all-time great fighters getting spanked as an old man? Nobody.
Ricky Hatton has fumed over Mike Tyson's upcoming clash with Jake Paul
PA
"It’s like me fighting Sugar Ray Leonard now in my prime.
"Sugar Ray is one of my heroes, he would have killed me in the ring in his prime. You couldn’t give me all the money in the world to fight one of my heroes like that.
"There’s a big difference between fighting for money and fighting a champion, and I think everyone can see this for exactly what it is."