Mark Wahlberg has admitted he hopes Mike Tyson is ‘healthy’ ahead of his bout with Jake Paul on Friday night.
The two Americans are currently preparing for the blockbuster showdown, which is expected to draw in millions of viewers from all over the world.
It will be Tyson’s first fight since 2020, when he drew with Roy Jones Jr.
As for Paul, the 27-year-old will be hoping to continue his impressive start to his boxing career – having won 10 of his 11 bouts so far.
Mark Wahlberg has admitted he hopes Mike Tyson is ‘healthy’ ahead of his bout with Jake Paul next Friday
Wahlberg has now opened up on the clash and admitted that his ‘dear friend’ Tyson will be ‘healthy’ for the showdown.
The 58-year-old was forced to delay the fight earlier this year following an ulcer flare up that had him worried he might die.
Wahlberg, speaking to Clocked N Loaded at the launch of his new restaraunt in Las Vegas, said: “Look, I’d like to see the old Mike come out one more time.
“I just hope nobody gets hurt.
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“I used to always watch Mike, pay for pay-per-view and people would complain ‘oh it was just one round, it wasn’t worth the money!’ I always got my money’s worth watching him.
“Mike is a dear friend and hopefully he’s going to be healthy and he does that old Mike thing just one more time.”
Tyson is adamant he can roll back the years when he faces Paul, despite the 31-year age gap between the two men.
The veteran has been updating fans on his preparations for the clash, often sharing footage of himself working hard in the gym.
Former boxing star Barry McGuigan isn’t convinced by the clips, however.
He feels they’re ‘not real’ and that Tyson could tarnish his legacy if he ends up crashing to defeat against Paul.
“I’m 63 and Tyson’s only five years behind me,” he told The Guardian.
“So the idea of him boxing any guy, even if he’s only ordinary, is just so wrong at that age.
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Mark Wahlberg is celebrating the opening of his restaurant, Flecha Cantina, in Las Vegas – where he shared his thoughts on the upcoming boxing bout between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul. pic.twitter.com/t2khk8kHSj
— Clocked N’ Loaded (@ClockedNload) November 8, 2024
“You are your reputation. That’s what people remember. And I remember Mike Tyson as a wrecking machine.
“He really was one of the most dangerous heavyweights that ever laced on gloves. There’s no doubt about that.
“And I don’t want people to say in 20 years’ time: ‘Oh, that’s that guy that had that sham of a fight with that YouTuber.'”
The former boxing star then added: “A 58-year-old amn shouldn’t be fighting. He just shouldn’t.
Mark Wahlberg will be tuning in to watch Mike Tyson tackle Jake Paul
GETTY
“At that age your punch resistance invariably disappears. And while we see all these clips of Tyson doing the pads, that’s not real.
“What’s real is sparring against good quality opposition and seeing how you look then. You can be sure he’s not doing that given his age.”