Boxing purists have slammed Paul and Tyson’s mega-fight this summer but heavyweight rivals Joshua and Fury think it will be good for the sport
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both believe Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul will only benefit boxing.
‘Iron Mike’ is back in the ring on July 20 when he faces YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in one of this year’s biggest and most controversial fights. The bout will be sanctioned as an exhibition but Tyson has dismissed claims he and Paul will be wearing headgear and 18-ounce gloves.
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Paul has been subject to heavy criticism for fighting retired MMA fighters and athletes from other sports since taking up boxing full-time. Joshua thinks influencers such as Paul stepping foot in the ring can only bring more eyes to boxing, as he said on The Jonathan Ross Show: “I personally think it’s really good.
“I think the boxing hardcores, they don’t like it because they think ‘Why are they disrespecting our sport?’ but I think that person brings all these people into boxing which benefits everyone else. Everyone viewing helps.” He’s [Mike Tyson] older now. I pray that he comes out healthy. I think Jake Paul because of youth – that’s the only thing.”
Fury is no stranger to the influencer boxing world as his brother Tommy handed Paul his only defeat to date when they fought last year. The heavyweight champion echoed Joshua’s comments about Paul vs Tyson when recently speaking with The Stomping Ground. “It’d be fantastic for the guys both getting paid, both gonna put on a show. I just don’t know what’s not to like,” he said.
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“Oh, okay, [Tyson] is 57 years old, but he’s a former undisputed world heavyweight king, and Paul plays computers for a living and he’s come to boxing about a year ago. So, pretty even match. “I think it’s fantastic for boxing. You’ve got a legend in Mike Tyson. You’ve got a YouTube boxer, he has come into the game and blew it up and he’s got millions of followers and millions of views and millions of eyes.
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“Good, bad or indifferent. Some people love him, some people hate him. I think it’s a really good spectacle for boxing. Brings a lot of people to the game. Listen, who am I to say, ‘Oh, Mike Tyson shouldn’t be boxing or Jake Paul shouldn’t be boxing, good luck to ’em. They’re both gonna make what I call a s*** ton of money out of it. So, isn’t that what it’s about? A great stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.”
