Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's long awaited Netflix fight is nearly here, but already the controversy between the two boxers has reached fever pitch.
During the weigh-in last night (14 November), the two boxers squared up to one another, and it appeared tempers were frayed as Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul across the cheek.
Facing off to each other, Paul crawled up to his opponent and was quickly greeted with a slap. Paul staggered backyards after the brutal blow as Tyson was pushed back from Paul by security.
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Taunting the 58-year-old, Paul then blew kisses as he was ushered away. Take a look at the moment below:
Speaking after the slap, the YouTuber said: "I didn't even feel it. He's angry. He's an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you're getting knocked the f*** out."
Now giving his view, Tyson has explained why he slapped his opponent and what made him angry.
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Speaking to The Post, Tyson explained: "I was in my socks and he had on shoes. He stepped on my toe because he is a f***ing a**hole. I wanted to think it happened by accident.
"But now I think it may have happened on purpose. I was in a lot of pain. I had to reciprocate."
Fans had spotted the moment Paul stepped on Tyson's toes as they speculated what could have driven him to slap his opponent, with many sharing their theories online.
One fan also reasoned: "It looks like the reason Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul was over something as simple as stepping on his foot. While it might sound like a minor thing, in the heat of the moment, especially with the tension between the two, it could’ve been enough to spark a reaction.
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"Tyson’s known for his fiery temper, and Jake Paul, with his brash persona, is never far from controversy. It's a reminder that in the world of combat sports, things can escalate quickly—even over small stuff."
Ahead of this evening, many have questioned why Tyson is returning to the ring after almost 20 years of retirement, especially to face an amateur fighter like Paul.
While Tyson is set for a big payday, he insisted that money wasn't a contributing factor to his decision.
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When asked by LADbible Group how much he believed he could make from the fight, Tyson said: "This fight is not going to change my life financially. If I did it for free, it’s not going to change my life financially. My wife is constantly telling me, you do not need to do this fight."
He went on to say of his reasoning for accepting the high profile fight: "This is what I want to do, this is me. I’m seeking my glory."
Viewers can tune in live to watch the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson match on Netflix on Friday, November 15. Their bout is scheduled to begin at 8 pm ET, 7 pm CT, 5 pm PT, and 1 am GMT.
Topics: Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Boxing, Sport, Netflix
Niamh Spence