Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson could end in calls for boxing to be BANNED as ‘things could go badly wrong’, ex-champion fears
JAKE PAUL'S controversial fight with Mike Tyson could end in calls for boxing to be BANNED, ex-world champion Paulie Malignaggi fears.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul faces heavyweight great Tyson on November 15 in a clash scrutinised over the massive age gap.
And former welterweight champ Malignaggi is among those fearing the worst ahead of the Netflix fight.
He told : "Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike’s age aren’t good. When you're younger, you can handle hits better.
"When you're older, your body isn’t made for that kind of damage anymore. Things could go badly wrong.
"If something like that happened, people would be calling for the sport to be banned. Personally, I don’t think his fight with Jake Paul should happen.
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"He’ll be 58 years old by then. 58 is still 58. We live in a generation that doesn’t understand ageing is a real thing.
"You can show highlights of Mike from the 80s, but the guy stepping into the ring won’t be that same Mike Tyson."
Paul is 10-1 with only a 2023 points defeat to Tyson Fury's brother Tommy, 25, blemishing his record.
Tyson retired in 2005 off the back of two dismal defeats and years of trouble outside the ring.
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But by 2020, he was reformed and returned for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr - which was nothing more than a glorified sparring session.
That will not be the case - so we're told - this time around as he prepares to fight Paul in a professionally sanctioned bout.
And Malignaggi added: "Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he’s certainly not a novice. He’s been boxing for about five years.
"After four years of boxing, I won the US National Championships, so Jake’s far from a beginner.
"He’s strong and young. Hitting someone Tyson’s age has serious risks. Tyson wasn’t taking punches well at 36, let alone now.
"If you hit a guy who's that old, it affects them. Imagine what getting hit by a strong guy like Jake would do to him. I wouldn’t want to find out."