MIKE TYSON is ready to bash Jake Paul - and then become a TV smash-hit.
Iron Mike, 58, aims to roll back the years this Friday when he takes on the YouTuber-turned-fighter in Texas.
The wrecking ball, once dubbed the baddest man on the planet, couldn't resist another battle in the ring - a whopping 19 years from his last proper fight against journeyman Kevin McBride.
A tasty pay packet edging close to £30 million helped with the decision-making, although Andrew Ruf, Tyson's manager for the last four years, isn't ruling out further bouts.
"I thought it would be one and done," Ruf told SunSport about possibly more fights.
"But I’ve learned not to put limitations on Mike Tyson. He has very little to prove, but he wants to keep competing at a high level."
However, if this is the last time Tyson dons the gloves, the former world heavyweight champ will still produce the goods.
Ruf revealed to SunSport several exciting TV and film projects the legendary boxer is involved in, some of which will be released "within the next year."
The Los Angeles-based entertainment veteran says Tyson is working on a Last Dance-style documentary for Netflix that will chronicle his incredible career, including all the turbulent ups and downs and current training footage.
He's also working on a "Boardwalk Empire kind of show" set in the 1920s, with the fight legend, obsessed with boxing's rich history, helping shape the storyline.
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Ruf says Tyson blew away the producers with the depth of his knowledge, which went from boxing to politics while incorporating the crime families involved.
"I had him on with the two very talented showrunners nominated for an Academy Award, and they were pitching him the show," he revealed.
"It was like watching a master class light up when Mike started talking about the history, characters, and politics."
Tyson's legendary mentor, Cuss D'Amato, found him as a raw 13-year-old before turning him into one of the most feared—and youngest—heavyweight champs in history.
D'Amato sowed the seed of discovery that morphed into his "encyclopedic" knowledge.
"Mike ended up giving all of us the lecture on what New York was like at the turn of the century," Ruff added.
There are also ongoing plans for another documentary centered on Brownsville, Brooklyn, where he grew up in his hometown, and a potential live show centred around the 2013 autobiography Undisputed Truth.
Tyson may have blown a reported £300 million since his glorious, power-packed heyday - with drug addictions and prison terms threatening to dilute his sporting legacy - but his recovery has been equally startling.
With business manager Adam Wilkes pulling the strings of their Tyson 2.0 company, he has enjoyed massive success with a cannabis company and invested in vegetarian, fast food company Mr. Charlie.
A now legendary cameo in the 2009 classic The Hangover set the stall out for this latest foray into TV and film.
"I've been honoured to be a part of seeing Mike's resurgence, redefinition, and what he's been able to do on the business venture side," admitted Ruf.
Tyson may want to shove Paul's bravado back down his throat, but his opponent's ability to create a multi-million dollar business empire from scratch while raking in the dollars by showing the bravery to step into the ring has to be respected.
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Ruf agrees and admits: "I’m incredibly impressed with Jake’s self-promotion and impact on the sport.
"Part of Mike’s appeal for this fight is how his presence spans five generations, from my 86-year-old father to my 11-year-old son.
"Jake brings younger audiences, which opens up new business and sports opportunities."
Netflix has only just started to explore sports coverage—they screened a tennis match between Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz earlier this year and enjoyed huge success with their F1 Drive to Survive series.
Ruf, however, predicts that following their work on a "perfect storm" of a clash between Tyson and the 27-year-old Paul, there will be a distinct "blurring of the lines between sporting events and streaming."
"They're ahead of the curve," he said.
"We negotiated with Netflix, which has been a great partner on other projects we’ve worked on, like Stranger Things and Outer Banks," Ruf added.
"We could have chosen pay-per-view, but this Netflix deal will likely set records. The only event it might rival is the Super Bowl."
Tyson may be approaching 60, yet the fascination remains.
The AT&T Stadium in Arlington, the stunning home of the Dallas Cowboys, will be jam-packed while millions around the globe tune in to see if Paul's punching power really matches the size of his mouth.
Whatever happens, according to Ruf, Iron Mike's status as a sporting great - whether you like him or not - will never be in doubt.
"Mike Tyson is in a category of one as a performer, as an athlete," he said.
"I think what's incredible about him is not just his star power or the fact that he's 58 years old and looks invincible.
"His story - the rise of Mike Tyson, the fall of Mike Tyson, and his persistence as a human being- define him. That's why people are so drawn to him."
READ MORE on all the build-up to the massive clash in Texas on Netflix...
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