A video clip of legendary boxer Mike Tyson from 2022 has been resurfacing on social media which shows Tyson walking with a cane after his fight with YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul was announced on Thursday.
It has been noted that the 57-year-old legend announced he will return to the squared circle against Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on July 20.
Recent footage of Mike Tyson has fans concerned about the Jake Paul fight. pic.twitter.com/Xw8LGB7mcu
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) March 9, 2024
“He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a ‘kid’ can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT,” Tyson said of Paul, who is 30 years his junior.
Tyson added: “It’s a full circle moment that will be beyond thrilling to watch; as I started him on his boxing journey on the undercard of my fight with Roy Jones and now I plan to finish him.”
‘Iron Mike’ dropped the reference to Paul competing on the undercard of Tyson’s last outing, an eight-round exhibition against former middleweight king Roy Jones Jr., in 2020. Paul has since forged a solid professional career, winning nine and losing just once, with six knockout victories.
However, July’s exhibition fight comes despite old footage showing Tyson walking with a support cane. Tyson was also seen using a wheelchair but he shrugged it off as dealing with back issues. “Mike doesn’t stand a chance, he won’t see round 2,” a fan said on social media. “He was in a wheelchair too earlier this year,” another added.
Meanwhile, many believe that Tyson is capable of bringing out his prime self as recent clips showing he’s still got it with some pad work. The ex-heavyweight was recently seen unloading on pads in the gym with renowned MMA coach Rafael Cordeiro.
Tyson’s fight announcement with Paul came hot on the heels of The Problem Child’s TKO victory over Ryan Bourland in Puerto Rico. “It’s crazy to think that in my second pro fight, I went viral for knocking out Nate Robinson on Mike Tyson’s undercard,” Paul said.
