Home Sport Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul as pair are dragged apart in heated final face-off

Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul as pair are dragged apart in heated final face-off

Sport — 15/11/2024 · 0 Comment

Mike Tyson showed that he still has lightning speed as he landed a big blow in his final promotional act ahead of his ring return.

‘Iron Mike’ is set to face Jake Paul tomorrow night in Dallas, and the pair faced off for one final time at tonight’s ceremonial weigh-ins in Dallas. The controversial social media personality has bulked up to heavyweight to face the boxing icon, and felt his power as his rival slapped him in their final face-off.

After an initially cordial build-up that lasted almost all year due to a Tyson health issue, the pair got heated during this week with a frosty press conference followed by an intense face-off. And it finally got physical in the final seconds tonight.

Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul in heated final face-off

After tipping the scales for a packed house at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson came face to face for their final face-off. Paul usually is known for ducking down in front of his opponents and then rising up, with his fists raised.

But Tyson refused to play his games, and showed off impressive hand speed as he caught his rival clean with a vicious slap. Paul handled the strike well, but the pair were immediately dragged apart by officials after the fact.

Paul continued to goad an aggressive crowd after the incident, flexing for an audience who chanted ‘F*** Jake Paul’ in unison. On the other hand, they enjoyed watching Tyson show some of his old fire as he put hands on the cocky social media sensation.

Jake Paul declares Mike Tyson ‘must die’ after being slapped

In the immediate aftermath of the slap, Tyson was not keen to speak to host Ariel Helwani in the standard interview format. When they did manage to get a word out of him, he noted that the “time for talking is over.”

But Paul was considerably more talkative, telling the renowned journalist: “I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf.

“Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you’re getting knocked the f*** out. I’m f***ing him up, Ariel… It’s personal now! He must die!”

Jake Paul weighs in more than 40lb heavier than Tommy Fury fight for Mike Tyson

As recently as February last year, Paul was managing to tip the scales at just over 183lb for his showdown with Tommy Fury. He was even contemplating a move down to 175lb to face Canelo Alvarez, but has now piled on the pounds as he bulked to heavyweight.

After a few fights at the 199lb cruiserweight limit, Paul looked absolutely gigantic at a new career-high of 227lb during today’s weigh-in. He had claimed to be coming in around 230lb, and lived up to his word opposite Tyson, who was actually just over a pound heavier.

It will be ‘Iron Mike’s first outing since 2020, and first as a professional since fighting Kevin McBride in 2005. He drew that exhibition in 2020 with Roy Jones Jr, but was stopped in his final two full fights almost two decades ago.