Legendary heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson is gearing up for a controversial dustup with YouTube star Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium, Texas, on November 15.
The event will be broadcast by Netflix in the streaming juggernaut’s first live boxing show, taking place several months after ‘Iron Mike’ withdrew from the contest for a medical reason.
And now, despite several combat sports aficionados claiming that he’s ‘damaging his legacy,’ the 58-year-old looks set to take on a vastly unproven novice in Paul.
But still, Jake Paul, who is more than three decades his opponent’s junior, will no doubt be looking to take advantage of Mike Tyson’s clear signs of wear and tear.
Hasim Rahman calls out Mike Tyson ahead of Jake Paul clash
While Tyson prepares for his eight, two-minute round contest, another potential opponent in former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman has now emerged on the scene too.
Rahman famously caused a monumental upset when he stopped boxing icon Lennox Lewis in the fifth round back in 2001.
But now, the 51-year-old has begun planning his comeback, looking to return to a professional ring for the first time since 2014.
“No doubt, there is only one name that comes to mind and that’s Mike Tyson,” Rahman told FightHype. “That’s just one of the only fights that I didn’t get to fight in my era.
“I was supposed to fight Mike Tyson but it didn’t work out that way but I’m still hoping for the fight, yeah, I’m still hoping for the fight, Mike!
“So when you finish with Jake, when he’s finished with ‘Fake Paul’ then I’m available. I think it would still be a great fight, I’m in terrific shape, so let’s see how Mike does with Jake and I’m available.”
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano to steal the show when Mike Tyson and Jake Paul collide
With Rahman now calling out Tyson, it would seem that the lure of boxing – and indeed crossover fights more specifically – has become too lucrative for ex-professionals to ignore.
However, the Paul vs Tyson card will also feature two intriguing matchups that should satisfy the hardcore fans.
Undisputed super lightweight champion Katie Taylor will enter her fiercely-anticipated rematch with Amanda Serrano off the back of a phenomenal victory over Chantelle Cameron.
What is more, WBC world welterweight champion Mario Barrios will put his trinket on the line against Abel Ramos, providing another world-level spectacle to accompany the eagerly-awaited main event.