Mike Tyson returns to the ring this weekend to face Jake Paul.
The fight, scheduled for eight two-minute rounds using 14-ounce gloves, will take place at AT&T Stadium in Texas and will stream live on Netflix.
Despite the undoubted audience figures it will produce, much of the sport feels the event is ill-advised and dangerous because of the 30-year age gap.
Speaking to Prime Casino, former unified world champion Amir Khan said he would feel personally aggrieved if his friend and boxing legend Tyson is defeated.
“You know what, the thing is there’s a big weight advantage and to be honest with you, Mike is a friend of mine and I FaceTime him and we talk, but when you have a 65-year-old man fighting a young boxer in his prime, you feel sorry for him, but you can’t feel too sorry for Mike Tyson because he’s taken that risk.
It’s a tough situation, but I wouldn’t want to get in the ring. In the end, Mike decides to get in the ring and fight. If he gets beat, you want to protect your friend and jump up and say I’m going to beat him up, so if he beats Mike Tyson, I would definitely like to give him a little slap and settle it.”
Khan said he had heard the fight contract could include a clause for more money the longer it lasts, something he feels adds danger.
“Look, both fighters can fight. We know that. God forbid Mike gets hit hard and knows he’s hurt, or gets cut, or Jake gets cut, he’ll survive in there. He’ll think fuck it, I’ll survive here and make another million. Making a million outside the ring is hard, so fuck it, I’ll stay in the ring for another three minutes, take a couple more hits, I’ll be fine. It’s worth it.”
My message to Mike Tyson is that we all love Mike Tyson. “He’s a friend of mine, too. He’ll always be remembered as a great. We all think Mike is going to go in the ring and go for the knockout, and he could do that too, but he has to be smart and focused, because we want to see Mike go in there, tear him apart and come out in one piece.”
Asked if he is worried, the Briton said yes.
“I’m worried. Yes, 100%. Every fight you go to, especially at his age, is he going to take it seriously? I think he is, but how seriously is he going to take it? Everyone remembers Mike Tyson, that tough fighter, that great world champion, that fighting animal, but I don’t want a fight like this to tarnish his record because a lot of people are going to think it’s a joke. We really don’t want it to get to that point where fighters who have been world champions and have been among the best, are now being beaten by YouTubers? It’s not a good image for boxing.”
Paul-Tyson will take place on November 15 and will feature the highly anticipated rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano as main support.