Mike Tyson's U-turn on Jake Paul boxing fight emerges ahead of press conference
Mike Tyson has changed his tune on fighting Jake Paul as the controversial boxing clash creeps closer
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Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to speak at a press conference on Sunday.
And old comments from the 58-year-old have emerged, with Tyson previously saying he would 'never' go up against his young rival.
The boxing duo had been due to battle on July 20, only for the showdown to be pushed back after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up.
It is one of the sport's most controversial fights ever due to the huge age gap between the two men.
Mike Tyson has changed his tune on fighting Jake Paul as the controversial boxing clash creeps closer
And Tyson wasn't always sold on the idea of facing Paul, with old comments from the boxing icon recently resurfacing.
Speaking just under two years ago, on the Full Send Podcast, Iron Mike categorically insisted a fight wouldn't take place.
“My family loves Jake Paul, I would never, I would never fight him," he said at the time.
"Everyone in my family love this little white motherf****r...
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"Let him has his reign, let him have his time.
"I don’t want to fight him man. I fight real fighters.
"I fight fighters that hurt big strong scary men, they’re the ones that I fight.”
It is currently unknown how much exactly Tyson is being paid to face Paul, who is 31 years his junior.
Marca said back in March that Tyson would likely be paid around $20million (£15.45m) for returning to the ring.
August 18 will be the first time the two men have faced each other since their bout was rescheduled.
Tyson has been working hard in the gym as he looks to wind back the years this winter.
Paul, meanwhile, recently got the better of Mike Perry - setting up his mouthwatering clash with Tyson in the process.
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Mike Tyson and Jake Paul are set to face each other at a press conference for the first time since their boxing fight was pushed back
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Former boxing star Butterbean, meanwhile, has labelled the upcoming fight a 'scam' - and also expressed a belief it won't actually end up taking place.
"Him and Tyson are never gonna fight," he said during a Q&A earlier this month.
"That has been a scam from the very beginning just to boost Jake's name - and it has!
"This guy, everybody's talking about him. But he's never gonna fight Tyson.
Mike Tyson has been working hard in the gym as he prepares for his boxing match with Jake Paul
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"They were never planning on fighting each other, because a promoter would never let him fight anyone else in between a fight.
"Never - not that big of a fight. So, it's been a scam from the beginning."