Mike Tyson will step back in the ring this summer – 19 years after his last pro fight – to face YouTuber-turned boxer Jake Paul.

In 2005, ‘Iron Mike’, one of the most feared heavyweights in history, bid a sad farewell to the sport as he quit on his stool against the unheralded Kevin McBride in Washington D.C.

And even as his career was coming to an end, SHOWTIME commentator Steve Albert’s introduction to their pay-per-view offering on June 11, 2005, showed Tyson still had his aura that had seen him storm through the heavyweight division in the 1980s and earn the nickname the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’.

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“Despite the prevailing opinion that Mike Tyson is shot, unfocused and undisciplined, this has elements of a short, painful night for Kevin McBride,” said Albert.

He was 38 years old, had been knocked out by Britain’s Danny Williams in his last fight and spent 11 months out of the ring since, but the Tyson phenomenon lived on regardless.

A crowd of 20,000 packed out the MCI Arena to witness the former undisputed heavyweight world champion in action, fully believing their hero would roll back the clock to produce another scintillating KO.

Irish journeyman McBride was the opponent selected for the occasion – his record not telling the full story.

The 32-year-old had accumulated his 32 wins by facing a host of lower-tier fighters and then suffered defeats whenever he stepped up in class.

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McBride was even beaten by Michael Murray, a man who ended his career losing 17 of his last 18 fights, with the only bout he won being the one against McBride.

While the Irishman is said to have earned $150,000 for the contest, Tyson was reportedly paid $5million – most of which went to his ex-wife and creditors.

However, Tyson was not the most iconic sporting figure at the MCI Arena that night.

After arriving at the venue, Tyson received a visit in his dressing room from the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ himself, Muhammad Ali.

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When both fighters did emerge for battle, Tyson came out to no music as he’d famously done before his peak performance against Michael Spinks in 1988.

By 2005, the intimidating effect of his entrance had lessened significantly.

McBride included a hypnotist in his pre-fight preparations and was unfazed.

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While waiting in the ring, he grabbed the giant Irish flag used to represent him and waved it to the hostile crowd who’d hounded him as he made his own walk.

Mike Tyson has sent Jake Paul a fresh warning ahead of their fight this summer.

Earlier this month the boxing world was stunned by the announcement that Mike Tyson will return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

The fight is scheduled to take place on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson will be 58 by then, and will enter the ring for the first time since he fought Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition fight in November 2020.

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Tyson retired from professional boxing in 2005, and many fans are concerned that he has decided to fight an athlete 31 years younger than him.

Figures from the worlds of boxing and MMA have criticised the fight, including Eddie Hearn, Ricky Hatton, Conor McGregor, Colby Covington and Dana White.

The outside noise clearly isn’t bothering Tyson though, who is busy preparing for the fight that could reportedly earn him more than £15 million.

Videos have emerged on social media of Tyson training, although some have claimed the footage is not from this year.

Whatever anybody else thinks, Tyson is certainly confident that he will beat his younger challenger.

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On Sunday Tyson uploaded an image of himself in the boxing gym to his Snapchat story, accompanied by the caption “Roses are red, violets are blue, watch out Jake Paul, I’m coming for you.”

Both boxers are treating the fight with the utmost sincerity.

The two men have been friendly in the past, but there was reportedly tension during the seven-hour negotiation when arranging the bout.

“When you sign the contract, something changes, right?,” Paul said on the ‘BS with Jake Paul’ podcast.

“Even if we want to feel that, but it’s like we are facing off, obviously, I love him and respect him so much.

“I’m honoured to be going into the ring with him, but we are f***ing fighting each other.”

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Mike Tyson will take on Jake Paul later this year in a keenly awaited bout – and Iron Mike has sent his opponent a chilling message as he prepares for his return to the ring.

The 57-year-old has not fought professionally since 2005, but is busy preparing to end a 20-year absence from the ring when he takes on YouTuber Paul in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday July 20.

Tyson is a legendary figure in the sport, having 50 wins from 58 fights under his belt, two no contests and only six losses in a career which spanned two decades.

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His last professional fight came against Kevin McBridge in 2005, but was stopped within two rounds.