Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul during the final face-off ahead of the bout in Texas. (X/Netflix)
Legendary boxer Mike Tyson appeared to cross a line on Friday when he slapped his opponent Jake Paul ahead of their highly-anticipated heavyweight showdown at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
In a video shared by Netflix on social media, the 58-year-old Tyson was seen slapping Paul with his right hand on the side of the head as they came face-to-face after completing their mandatory weigh-ins before the bout. “Talk is over,” Tyson said after the heated moment.
Paul, the Youtuber-turned-fighter, said the fight has gotten “personal” after Tyson’s unexpected move.
MIKE TYSON HITS JAKE PAUL AT THE WEIGH IN #PaulTyson
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LIVE ON NETFLIX
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
8 PM ET | 5 PM PT pic.twitter.com/kFU40jVvk0— Netflix (@netflix) November 15, 2024
“I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf. Mike Tyson that was a cute slap but tomorrow he is going to be knocked the f**k out. He hits like a b***h. It’s personal now. It’s personal now. He must die,” a fuming Paul responded. “This is a pinch me moment. I got slapped by Mike Tyson,” Paul later wrote on X.
Both fighters weighed in under 230 pounds last evening, making the fight official after being postponed in July due to an ulcer flare-up for Tyson. While Paul was marked at 227.2 pounds, Tyson came in marginally heavier at 228.4 pounds.
This is a pinch me moment. I got slapped by Mike Tyson 🤗
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) November 15, 2024
Tyson, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion, who recorded 44 of his 50 pro-boxing wins with knockouts (KO), recently promised to unleash “Iron Mike” in his return to the ring. “I’m bringing the devil himself [to the ring],” Tyson was quoted as saying during Tuesday’s open workout session.
The heavyweight showdown will be fought over eight two-minute rounds with each fighter using 14-ounce gloves. While Tyson’s record stands at 50-6-2 (Win-loss-no contest), Paul has stacked up a 10-1 profile since his pro debut in 2020.
Tyson last won a bout in Febrary 2003, a KO over Clifford Etienne to mark his 50th career triumph. He had since suffered successive defeats in 2004 and 2005 before calling it quits. The 31-year age difference between Tyson and Paul (27) is the largest in professional boxing history,
