Jake Paul didn’t mince words when addressing the allegedly leaked rules for his upcoming fight against Mike Tyson.
The highly-anticipated bout - which will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on July 20 and be streamed on Netflix - has drawn heavy criticism, in large part due to the sizable age gap between fighters. Tyson’s health came into question after videos emerged showing the 57-year-old using a support cane and wheelchair.
The legendary boxer’s fight against Paul, 27, will be the first time he’s stepped into the ring since facing off against Roy Jones Jr. on November 28, 2020. Amidst these concerns, rumours began circulating on the internet regarding the safety measures that will be put in place for the fight.
It was claimed Paul and Tyson would wear headguards and 18oz gloves, which British heavyweight Derek Chisora branded as a “joke.”
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"I know for a fact they are using 18oz gloves and head guards – if I'm not mistaken. I think so,” Chisora told reporter Radio Rahim. “So we're watching a sparring match. It's a f****** joke. You think I'm paying to watch that?"
Paul was quick to dispel this hearsay, and bashed anyone who was gullible enough to believe it.
“Just a quick message to the people who are complaining about the rules of me versus Mike Tyson,” Paul said. “Some TikToker user made a video making up all these fake rules like me and Logan tag teaming him, us wearing headgear, all of this bull****. If you believe that you’re a f*****g idiot and you shouldn’t be allowed to vote, you shouldn’t be allowed to drive on the streets and endanger other people.
“I feel for any dumb*** who believes that and I would never let my fans down in a fight like this and wearing headgear? Come on now people.”
Nakisa Bidarian, Paul’s manager, further denied the false report, writing on Instagram, "Unequivocally there is no headgear for Paul vs Tyson, haters spreading fake news but it won't stop the 10's of millions of views."
Tyson, meanwhile, appears to be in good shape as he begins preparation for the fight. During a ten-second clip posted to social media, “Iron Mike” threw a series of powerful punches to the hands and midsection of his trainer in rapid succession. He ended the video by emphasising there’s still more work to do, saying "It's day 1 ... the fun has just begun."
Paul will likely be a handful for Tyson, who is 30 years older than his competition. The Youtuber-turned-boxer boasts a 9-1 professional record, with the majority of his fights coming against low-profile boxers and former UFC fighters.
While the exact rules of the fight remain unknown, it’s safe to assume that 18oz gloves and headguards will not be featured.