Current:Home > reviewsWhy is Mike Tyson fighting Jake Paul? He says it's not about the money -TradeCircle
Why is Mike Tyson fighting Jake Paul? He says it's not about the money
View
Date:2025-04-15 16:39:39
He’s 58 years old and indicates there’s no need for money. So why is Mike Tyson moving forward with his fight against 27-year-old Jake Paul?
“I could be waiting on a check every day from cannabis,’’ Tyson said, referring to his cannabis company, Tyson 2.0. “That’s (B.S.) for me. I’m a man. … I want to go out there and I want to expose myself to risk. …
“Sometimes I want to see who I really am. I want to see what I'm really made out of."
Tyson, who was sidelined for weeks after an ulcer flareup, made the remarks while providing commentary Friday night during Cage Wars 67, a mixed martial arts event in New York. Previously, he had been less clear about his motivation for the bout against Paul to be held on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"I want to perform in front of the world,'' Tyson said. "To me, that's all I ever knew how to do since I was 14.''
On Friday night, he expressed enthusiasm for the fights as he sat ringside with his son Amir at Rivers Casino & Resort in Schenectady, New York, about 180 miles from where he grew up in Brooklyn and about 50 miles from where he developed into a heavyweight world champion under the watch of the late Cus D’Amato.
But the regular two commentators for Cage Wars periodically brought the conversation back to Tyson and his fight with Paul, which is set to be livestreamed by Netflix. Paul recently said he would make $40 million from the fight, but Tyson downplayed the financial incentive.
“This fight is not going to change my life financially enough,’’ Tyson said. “This is just what I want to do.’’
Regarding the ulcer flareup that led to the fight being postponed, Tyson said he has no more ulcers and his “blood count is almost back.’’
Tyson resumed training in July, according to his agent Andrew Ruf.
Mike Tyson says it's 'hard to walk'
With the fight two months away, Tyson said he recently sparred six rounds. He said that will increase to 10 rounds as he prepares for a bout scheduled for eight two-minute rounds.
“The fight is won in the gym,’’ Tyson said.
But he acknowledged that training at 58 rather than, say, 20 – when he became the youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history – is a different experience. Things are “a little shaky now,’’ according to Tyson.
“It’s hard to walk right now,’’ he said. “But two months from now I’m going to be perfect.’’
For recovery, Tyson is using electric stimulation and stem cells.
“Listen, I’ll do anything that will help me,’’ he said.
veryGood! (593)
Related
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- 3 rescued, 1 sought in Lake Erie in Ohio after distress call, Coast Guard says
- MLB All-Star Game rosters: American League, National League starters, reserves, pitchers
- Morgan Wallen should be forgiven for racial slur controversy, Darius Rucker says
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- France's own Excalibur-like legendary sword disappears after 1,300 years wedged in a high rock wall
- Wimbledon 2024 bracket: Latest scores, results for tournament
- Tour de France rider fined for stopping to kiss wife during time trial
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Floodwaters erode area around Wisconsin dam, force evacuations
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
- Bernhard Langer misses cut at Munich to bring 50-year European tour career to an end
- A US appeals court will review its prior order that returned banned books to shelves in Texas
- To a defiant Biden, the 2024 race is up to the voters, not to Democrats on Capitol Hill
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Passenger complaints about airline travel surged in 2023
- Eddie Murphy on reviving Axel Foley, fatherhood and what a return to the stage might look like
- Hamilton finally stops counting the days since his last F1 win after brilliant British GP victory
Recommendation
Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
10-year veteran Kevin Pillar says he's likely to retire after 2024 MLB season
Scammers are swiping billions from Americans every year. Worse, most crooks are getting away with it
DeMar DeRozan joining Sacramento Kings in trade with Bulls, Spurs, per report
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
Who is Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer, ushered to power by his Labour Party's election landslide?
Forest fire has burned 4,000 acres in New Jersey but is now 60 percent contained, officials say
Tank and the Bangas to pay tribute to their New Orleans roots at Essence Festival