Watch: Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul during final face-off ahead of blockbuster bout
TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Nov 15, 2024, 07.20 AM IST
NEW DELHI: During the final face-off on Thursday ahead of their Netflix-sponsored match, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson slapped his opponent, Jake Paul, after the weigh-in at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The altercation occurred when Tyson, aged 58, struck Paul on the cheek with an open hand, leading to immediate intervention by security personnel to de-escalate the situation.
ALSO READ: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Boxing legend and YouTube sensation collide in historic bout
Watch:
Tyson, who weighed in at 228.4 pounds, briefly commented, "Talking's over," before departing the scene with his team.
Jake Paul, a 27-year-old who transitioned from YouTube fame to boxing, downplayed the incident, claiming he was unharmed by the slap and responding with taunts aimed at Tyson.
"I didn't even feel it -- he's angry. He's an angry little elf...cute slap buddy," said Paul.
"He must die," Paul roared. The bout, scheduled for Friday, involves eight two-minute rounds and has Tyson reportedly receiving a $20 million purse.
ALSO READ: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, all you need to know
Weighing in at 227.2 pounds, Paul vocally promised a knockout victory in a charged statement.
This event has sparked mixed reactions within the boxing community, given Tyson's long absence from professional boxing—nearly four decades since his debut and 19 years since his last sanctioned fight.
Critics and fans alike are divided over the legitimacy and safety of the match, highlighting the ongoing debate over the place of exhibition bouts in the sport's landscape.
The altercation occurred when Tyson, aged 58, struck Paul on the cheek with an open hand, leading to immediate intervention by security personnel to de-escalate the situation.
ALSO READ: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: Boxing legend and YouTube sensation collide in historic bout
Watch:
Tyson, who weighed in at 228.4 pounds, briefly commented, "Talking's over," before departing the scene with his team.
Jake Paul, a 27-year-old who transitioned from YouTube fame to boxing, downplayed the incident, claiming he was unharmed by the slap and responding with taunts aimed at Tyson.
"I didn't even feel it -- he's angry. He's an angry little elf...cute slap buddy," said Paul.
"He must die," Paul roared. The bout, scheduled for Friday, involves eight two-minute rounds and has Tyson reportedly receiving a $20 million purse.
ALSO READ: Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul: How to watch the fight, time, all you need to know
Weighing in at 227.2 pounds, Paul vocally promised a knockout victory in a charged statement.
This event has sparked mixed reactions within the boxing community, given Tyson's long absence from professional boxing—nearly four decades since his debut and 19 years since his last sanctioned fight.
Critics and fans alike are divided over the legitimacy and safety of the match, highlighting the ongoing debate over the place of exhibition bouts in the sport's landscape.