Mike Tyson has finally responded to Jake Paul’s huge $5million offer ahead of their controversial showdown next month.
Speaking recently, Paul said he was willing to pay Iron Mike the dizzying sum if he’s able to last more than four rounds on November 15.
If Tyson isn’t able to live up to his end of the deal, however, he’ll need to get a tattoo saying ‘I love Jake Paul’ somewhere on his body.
Paul also admitted that Tyson had been ignoring the offer, with the boxing icon instead working hard in the gym behind the scenes.
Boxing news: Mike Tyson has finally responded to Jake Paul’s huge $5million offer ahead of their controversial showdown next month
But the heavyweight icon has now finally responded in a new interview with USA Today.
“He should offer more,” he said when asked about Paul’s wager.
When quizzed specifically how much, the 58-year-old then added: “Tell him probably about $20m.”
Many aren’t sure what to expect from Tyson when he returns to action. His last professional fight, back in 2005, ended with a poor defeat against Kevin McBride in Las Vegas.
The boxing legend is realistic that, in order to reign supreme, he’ll need to ‘catch’ Paul early on.
“Listen, I don’t expect him to come head on and fight me,” added the boxing icon, who won 50 bouts during his prime years in the sport.
“So I’ll have to catch him for a couple of rounds.”
Tyson’s last fight didn’t set the world alight. In 2020, his exhibition showdown with Roy Jones Jr ended in a draw.
There are concerns over the veteran’s health as the clash creeps closer, especially given how Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up earlier in the year.
The two men had originally been due to lock horns in Texas on July 20.
Lennox Lewis, who fought Tyson back in 2002, has been asked about the upcoming battle and the possibility of a future rematch.
And the Briton confirmed he’d spoken to his former opponent, with the pair open to a second duel at some point in the future.
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“Let’s see how he makes out in this fight first,” he told TMZ.
“I have spoken to Mike, just about fighting.
“Let’s hope his health is OK. You can’t see things on the outside that may be affecting you on the inside.
“I wouldn’t want to say he is OK then all of a sudden something happens.”
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In a separate interview with Fox 29, Lewis fired a warning to Paul by telling him not to underestimate Tyson – despite the big age gap between the two men.
“Mike Tyson’s gonna win,” he said. “He’s not that old. Don’t take him too softly.
“We’re one year apart… You can fight somebody like that and do well, because the person you’re fighting is not a true fighter and there’s a hundred things that you’ve forgotten that he’s learning.
“[The age] will be a little bit of a determining factor if the fight goes on too long, but if they get close and Mike comes with his ten-second combination, if one of those punches catches [Paul] he’s definitely gonna go down.”