by Keith Idec
IRVING, Texas – Jake Paul took Mike Tyson’s first shot without incident.
Tyson slapped Paul to the side of his face after their ceremonial weigh-in Thursday night because Paul apparently stepped on Tyson’s foot as they were brought face-to-face for traditional photo opportunities on stage. The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion and Paul, a career cruiserweight who is 31 years younger than him, were separated immediately.
Tyson declined to say much when Ariel Helwani attempted to interview him on stage following the incident. The Brooklyn native was whisked off stage as he muttered, “It’s time to fight.”
Paul, meanwhile, went into full WWE mode as he explained his take on what occurred to Helwani.
“I didn’t even feel it,” Paul said of the slap, before he began screaming at Helwani. “He’s angry. He’s a angry, little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy. But tomorrow, you’re getting knocked the f*ck out! I’m f*cking him up, Ariel! I’m f*cking him up! He hits like a bitch! It’s personal now! It’s personal now! He must die!”
Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs, 2 NC) will participate in his first official fight in 19½ years when he opposes Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) in an eight-round main event Netflix will stream worldwide from the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, across Dallas from Irving.
Tyson, who stepped on the scale at 228½ pounds, was a little more than a pound heavier than Paul, who officially weighed a career-high 227¼.
Paul has won four fights in a row since he lost a split decision to Tommy Fury (10-0, 4 KOs), Tyson Fury’s younger half-brother, in February 2023 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Other than his exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020 and prior unofficial fights in 2006 and 2007, Tyson hasn’t boxed since gigantic Irish underdog Kevin McBride made him quit on his stool following six one-sided rounds in June 2005.
The 5-foot-10 Tyson weighed in at 233 pounds when he met McBride.
The official weights for the six fights on the Paul-Tyson undercard are listed below.
Netflix
1 a.m. GMT in the UK; 8 p.m. ET in the U.S.
Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs), Bray, Ireland, 137½ pounds vs. Amanda Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs), Brooklyn, New York, 137½ pounds, 10 rounds for Taylor’s IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO junior welterweight titles.
Mario Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs), San Antonio, 146¾ pounds vs. Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs), Casa Grande, Arizona, 146½ pounds, 12 rounds for Barrios’ WBC welterweight title.
Nareej Goyat (19-4-2, 8 KOs), Chandigarh, India, 162 pounds vs. Whindersson Nunes (pro debut), 164 pounds, 6 rounds, super middleweights.
Netflix Sports, MVP Promotions YouTube channels
10:30 p.m. GMT in the UK; 5:30 p.m. in the U.S.
Shadasia Green (14-1, 11 KOs), Paterson, New Jersey, 167¾ pounds vs. Melinda Watpool (7-0, 2 KOs), Toronto, 166¾ pounds, 10 rounds for the vacant WBO women’s super middleweight title.
Lucas Bahdi (17-0, 15 KOs), Niagara Falls, Canada, 134½ pounds vs. Armando Casamonica (14-0, 3 KOs), Roma, Italy, 138½ pounds, 10 rounds, lightweights.
Bruce Carrington (13-0, 8 KOs), Brooklyn, New York, 125¾ pounds vs. Dan Coolwell (13-2, 8 KOs), Beerwah, Australia, 125¼ pounds, 8 rounds, featherweights.
