Former world champion Mike Tyson said that “the devil himself” would show up Friday night in his boxing match against Jake Paul. He gave Paul a preview at Thursday’s weigh-in.
After Tyson weighed in at 233 pounds, he approached Paul for the final stare-down before Friday’s clash at AT&T Stadium. Paul, who weighed a career-high 220 pounds, darted forward from a crawling stance to get up close and personal to the former heavyweight champion.
In response to Paul, 27, entering his personal space, Tyson unleashed an open-handed slap that connected flush on Paul’s face. The two were quickly separated by security as Paul played to the crowd, mocked Tyson and laughed at him.
A source close to Tyson told ESPN that Tyson reacted to Paul “purposefully” stepping on his foot during the stare-down. Tyson was fed up with Paul’s trash talk, according to the source, and stepping on his foot was the tipping point for Tyson.
Tyson was escorted away while Paul addressed the crowd, saying, “It’s personal now. He must die!”
Tyson’s demeanor has shifted over the past several days. He was talkative during Tuesday’s open workouts but appeared much more subdued at Wednesday’s news conference, offering short answers to questions from the media. By Thursday, he seemed to have had enough of the talking and was ready for action.
How that translates to Friday’s bout is anyone’s guess, but the slap has only heightened anticipation for the generational clash between the iconic boxer and the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter.
The betting public is overwhelmingly siding with Mike Tyson for Friday’s fight against Jake Paul that bookmakers say is on pace to be the most heavily bet boxing match in years.
The odds have been drifting toward Tyson this week, with sportsbooks reporting upward of 90% of the bets being on the underdog. Tyson, 58, has moved from +225 to +175 this week at ESPN BET, where Paul, 27, is listed as a -225 favorite.
The eight-round, sanctioned fight takes place Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and will be broadcast on Netflix.
While Tyson is garnering the majority of wagers, the bigger ones are on Paul, including a $1 million bet placed with Caesars Sportsbook by a bettor in Michigan at -220 odds. The bet would pay a net $454,000 if Paul wins.
DraftKings sportsbook director Johnny Avello told ESPN on Thursday that it had taken two $500,000 bets on Paul to win.
ESPN
