A former undisputed champion is hoping to be next in line for a fight with Jake Paul after Mike Tyson deals with the YouTube star.
Jake Paul’s next visit to a boxing ring will see him take on one of the greats of the sport Mike Tyson.
The pair will square off in Dallas, Texas on November 15 in a licensed professional fight, after their original contest was first scheduled as an exhibition.
Tyson withdrew from the first fight that was planned for July 20 due to health concerns, but the question of whether or not the boxing legend should have been allowed in the ring was already being asked.
Hardcore boxing fans were disgusted at the prospect of watching one of their heroes being beaten by someone who would have lasted a matter of seconds if Tyson was still in his prime.
Now another legend of the sport and a former opponent of Tyson is ready to take on the YouTube star.
Lennox Lewis wants to take on Jake Paul after Mike Tyson
Lennox Lewis once ruled the heavyweight division and was the last undisputed heavyweight champion until Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury last month to lift all four belts.
Lewis is seen as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time after defeating every man he faced in his illustrious career, but he has not laced up his gloves since beating Vitali Klitschko 11 years ago.
Now the 58-year-old is aiming for a return to the ring and follow in Tyson’s footsteps by taking on entertainer Paul in a boxing match.
“I hope that Tyson saves a little bit of Jake Paul for me,” Lewis told Fox 29 Philadelphia.
Lewis knows Tyson better than most after the pair faced off in one of the world’s most anticipated fights in 2002.
Lewis knocked out Tyson in the eighth round of that contest but is still backing the boxing legend to cause an upset against the much younger Paul.
“Mike Tyson’s gonna win. Mike Tyson’s not that old. Don’t take him too softly. We’re one year apart,” Lewis continued.
“You can fight somebody like that and do well because the person you’re fighting is not a true fighter and there’s a hundred things that you’ve forgotten that he’s learning.”
Lewis may be backing Tyson to come away victorious when he faces Paul, but had a warning for the old heavyweight if the fight is to reach the later rounds.
“[The age] will be a little bit of a determining factor if the fight goes on too long, but if they get close and Mike Tyson comes with his ten-second combination, if one of those punches catches him he’s definitely gonna go down.”
History is not on Lewis and Tyson’s side
The history books do not fair well for fighters like Lewis and Tyson making a comeback at their age.
Roy Jones Jr. once had elite skills and reactions that made him one of the greatest fighters of his era, but he carried on his career too long.
This meant he suffered defeats to low-calibre opponents, tarnishing his once outstanding resume.
The man who was once considered the greatest fighter to have ever lived after winning world titles from middleweight up to heavyweight is now often forgotten about in the GOAT debate.
Another legend to try his hand at a comeback into the sport was former world champion Ricky Hatton.
Hatton spent his career ballooning up and down in weight and partying in between fights.
This meant the Hitman struggled in his later years and suffered stoppage defeats to greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao before retiring.
The former champion then decided to have another crack three years later and announced a comeback, but it did not end how he would have hoped.
A packed-out Manchester Arena witnessed the man famous for his body shots stopped with the very shot he was known for.
The little-known Vyacheslav Senchenko whipped in a left to the body that put Hatton down and out for the count.
Lewis and Tyson will be hoping that history doesn’t repeat itself and they can beat the undefeated champion that is Father Time.