Boxing

Tyson to switch off Paul’s lights; Paul to weather the early storm - Can Mike Tyson beat Jake Paul?

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Tyson and Paul finally meet, and the DAZN panel have had their say on the bout.

One of the biggest events of 2024 is almost upon us as Jake Paul steps into the ring with Mike Tyson.

Since being announced, the fight has provided so many questions and the vast majority of them are expected to be answered this Friday night as the popular YouTuber faces the former world heavyweight champion.

Here, the DAZN panel takes a look at the fight and whether Tyson, at 58 years of age, can somehow turn back the clock.

Chris Walker (DAZN News Boxing Editor)

Of course Mike Tyson can win, but the window to do so is very small and he probably has one or two rounds to make a significant impact in this fight.

I’m yet to see a fighter improve after 19 years outside the ring, and even in the latter stages of Tyson’s run as a serious contender, there were many concerns about his wellbeing then as he looked fragile in losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride in his final two pro fights.

Tyson may have a good five minutes in him and that may be enough, but the wise money should be on Paul weathering an early storm and then using his freshness to see him register another victory.

Mike Tyson Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Dev Sahni (Queensberry Promotions)

Every fighter has one last stand in them. One moment where they can reach back into the past and summon that magic which once made them great.

Mike probably has five minutes of that magic in him and I’m not sure Jake quite knows enough to keep away from it.

I think Jake Paul has awoken something in Mike Tyson that he may regret.

Read next | Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson - Who are people betting on the most before blockbuster fight?

Derek Bilton (DAZN News)

Tyson is boxing royalty and clearly the puncher in this fight, but he is also pushing 60 and has lived a life of extremes. Those who remember his violent 1980s peak will no doubt be shocked to see him chalked up as a 2/1 betting outsider by the odds compilers, as prime for prime, this would have been no contest.

Paul at 27 and a pro since 2020 is very much in his athletic prime, and someone who is taking boxing seriously. He will have height and reach advantages, and it won’t hurt that the gloves they will be throwing down with will be 14oz.

There’s a chance Tyson could switch off Paul’s lights if he lands clean, but the hunch here is youth is served and the 'Problem Child' gets the 'W', more than likely on points.

Jake Paul y Al Bello/Getty Images

Andrew Steel (DAZN News)

Paul has worn many masks throughout his short career, propelled to Gen-Z notoriety by his devout following and social media presence.

But even against a foe on far older, wearier legs than he has, he will have to be smart to outwit Tyson who - even if a shell of his former self - still packs a punch.

The shorter rounds theoretically tip the scales towards Iron Mike's flagging energy levels, but The Problem Child can likely respond with the gloves too.

This will be a theatre of the absurd - and it isn't too absurd to think that The Baddest Man on the Planet, as the veteran fighter, could still prevail too.

Gareth Jones (DAZN News Editor)

Without wishing to grandiose this fight even further, it feels like this is a battle for the survival of Millennials and Generation X. I want to believe Tyson still has some magic left and can roll back the years to deliver a famous victory.

But what if he loses, or even worse, gets knocked out? If Tyson is defeated by a YouTuber, then maybe Paul Gascoigne will not make an England comeback; maybe Linford Christie cannot run the 100m in under 10seconds anymore - all things in our youthful minds we still believe in.

Tuesday's open workouts showed that Tyson can still bang. If he connects with Paul with one of those three-shot combos, or ideally that famous uppercut, then it would be goodnight Paul. But that showcase was exactly that, a show with a preplanned performance of shots and movements.

Paul will not just stand there as trainer Rafael Cordeiro did. If he is smart, he will be patient, move around, wait for Tyson to tire and then take his shots. He is a powerful boy and Tyson has not been hit properly for 19 years, so a knock down is very much on the cards.

Hopefully Tyson avoids that ignominy. He owes two generations, and Gazza, that at least.

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