Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight 'disgusting' as Eddie Hearn makes fury clear on controversial boxing clash

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight 'disgusting' as Eddie Hearn makes fury clear on controversial boxing clash

WATCH NOW: Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight trailer

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 05/04/2024

- 12:20

Updated: 05/04/2024

- 12:21

The boxing world is divided over the pair's bout in July

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's upcoming fight has been branded 'disgusting' by boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.

It was announced last month that the two Americans will be meeting in the ring in July, despite a huge 30-year age gap between the two fighters.


Tyson will be 58 by the time the fight takes place, with the boxing icon last fighting back in 2020.

Hearn has previously admitted he's 'sad' about the showdown, which will be streamed by Netflix.

Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn has raged over Mike Tyson's upcoming boxing fight with Jake Paul

GETTY

And the 44-year-old has now raged while speaking to Piers Morgan Uncensored.

"I think we live in a crazy world, don’t we, where that younger generation is built off views, built off narrative, built off controversy," he said when asked about the showdown.

"And as a hardcore fight fan, someone who has been around boxing since I was nine years old, I find it disgusting that a 58 year old man - who was my hero growing up, firstly has to even get back in the ring, from a financial point of view with the amount of money that man was paid or partially paid during his career, to get in a ring with a 25-year-old guy who can’t really fight.

"But for me I understand it and I was speaking to the Netflix guys, I don’t think they liked my criticism of the event.

"I’m never going to lie to you, I’m never going to sugar coat it, I’m just going to give you my honest opinion which is, it will sell, people will watch, it’ll be a big event and I don’t like it."

Hearn's father, Barry, was also critical.

He added: "It’s going to make a huge amount of money.

"You can understand Netflix’s approach. If [Tyson] doesn’t win quickly he can’t win.

"I don’t believe the other guy is much of a fighter but he’s fit and he trains and he’s young… two rounds, no matter, when you’re 59, two rounds max, Tyson’s going to be blowing out of his backside because it’s quite dangerous, boxing at that level… I find it quite sad."

It will be fascinating to see how the bout plays out.

But while many have criticised the two fighters, Tyson has blasted back at critics - insisting they're merely 'jealous'.

"I'm 58 and what? I'm getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting," he told Reuters earlier this week.

"Everybody, even most of the athletes, they're jealous, that's whack.

"I say in your prime you couldn't draw a million people, man.

"What are you talking, you couldn't sell out an arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?

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Jake Paul

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are set to make millions when they fight in July

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"Why you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else? Everybody wants to fight him, all the boxers want to fight him.

"But if he fought them the only people that will come are the people that like him.

"The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them. That's just keeping it real.

"They're too boring for their children to watch, it's like watching grass grow."

Tyson has also told Fox News he thinks Paul will be out to 'hurt' him in their clash.

Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson will be 58 by the time he faces Jake Paul in July

GETTY

“I don’t think he’s faster than me," he said.

"I train every day, I take it serious… I’m invincible.

“I think he's come a long way from YouTubing. I seen a YouTube of him at 16 doing weird dances, that’s not the guy I’m fighting.

"This guys gonna come, try and hurt me… and he’s gonna be greatly mistaken.”

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