It’s hard to take them seriously.
But Mike Tyson and Jake Paul insist their fight will go on.
The boxing legend and YouTuber-turned boxer met again Sunday for another news conference, this time at the Javits Center in Hell’s Kitchen as part of Fanatics Fest NYC.
It marked the first time the two came head-to-head since their highly-anticipated — and much scrutinized — bout was postponed from July 20 to Nov. 15 after Tyson’s health scare in May.
The sizable age disparity — Tyson is 58, while Paul is 27 — coupled with the fact that Tyson has not fought a professional bout since a 2005 loss to Kevin McBride prompted skepticism that the fight, which is set to take place at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, will actually take place.
Tyson’s health complication — his ulcer flared up while onboard a flight from Miami to Los Angeles — only raised those doubts.
Asked point blank if he’s certain the fight will happen, Tyson answered in the affirmative. His answer wasn’t exactly emphatic or convincing, though.
“It’s happening,” Tyson said while laughing. “We’re all here.”
Tyson’s frivolous demeanor matched the circus-like atmosphere around him Sunday.
The bout is an officially sanctioned heavyweight fight that will count on both of their professional records, but the promotion has felt like a gimmick since its announcement.
Still, the ability to see Tyson step back into the ring along with Paul’s social media fame — and infamy — delivers rare intrigue.
The bout, set to be streamed live on Netflix at no additional pay-per-view cost to subscribers, is expected to draw immense viewership.
Thousands of rowdy fans poured into Javits Center’s theater, chanting their adoration for Tyson while deriding Paul every chance they got.
“You had to go on your little menopause break and postpone the fight,” Paul taunted Tyson to a fierce crowd reaction. “How about that, dawg? I was ready before, you needed a little break. Your tummy hurt still?”
Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) hardly offered little more than one-line answers throughout the afternoon, simply replying, “I’m feeling a lot better now.”
When emcee Ryan Clark suggested Tyson was nervous about fighting Paul and wasn’t actually sick, Tyson laughed and sarcastically said, “I was terrified.”
Eventually, Tyson countered all of Paul’s trash talk with a simple “I’m gonna f–k you up,” and suggested that the fight would go “very painfully” for Paul. Fans ate up every word he said, even if they were sparse.
Paul was far more verbose.
Paul, at 10-1 with seven knockouts against mostly ex-MMA fighters and fellow influencers, called Tyson an “old-ass motherf—-r,” told him he is “gonna discipline you like a son,” and said that he will give Tyson “his end in boxing.”
Brash and antagonistic, Paul’s villain-like persona has brought him much of his following and celebrity.
It’s helped him land lucrative fights soon after entering the sport and created interest — much of it from people hoping to see him lose — in his boxing career.
It’s a theme he constantly touched on, relishing the continued doubts about his seriousness as a professional fighter.
Paul constantly had to shout over the booing crowd, which alternated chants of “F–k Jake Paul” and “YouTuber” every time he spoke. Paul fed right into it, lashing out at both the crowd and New York.
“Shut the f–k up, New York,” Paul said. “Boo yourselves. Boo yourselves, New York. New York, you’re just like Mike Tyson — you were good 20 years ago. F–k you, New York. Dumbass Democratic city.”
But if they actually meet in the ring on Nov. 15, it’ll be one of the most-feared men of a past generation Paul will have to overcome — not some heckling fans.
Tyson gave Paul a small push during their faceoff, but even that was playful and unserious as Tyson burst out laughing.
Once Tyson’s fists start flying for real, however, there usually isn’t much funny business.
Does that version of “Iron Mike” still exist?
“We got a YouTuber fighting the greatest fighter that ever lived,” Tyson said. “… I’m ready.”
