Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul in face off ahead of fight
On the eve of their big Netflix fight in Dallas, Texas, Mike Tyson delivered a resounding slap to opponent Jake Paul’s face. Both men weighed in at Texas’ Toyota Music Factory, with Tyson clocking in at only one pound heavier than Paul, before squaring up to each other as their security and team members watched on.
Suddenly Tyson, who had mostly refused to rise to Paul’s attempted goads throughout the buildup to the bout, finally exploded and slapped Paul right across the face. Security quickly jumped in to separate the two men, while their teams held them back, and the audience in attendance watched on in stunned silence.
When broadcaster Ariel Helwani asked Tyson why he struck Paul, he said, “Talking’s over,” and strode off stage. Paul, meanwhile, sat down on the stage and closed his eyes, almost as if he was meditating.
The YouTuber was keen to play down the impact of Tyson’s strike. “I didn’t even feel it,” claimed Paul when asked for his thoughts about receiving the blow. “He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you’re getting knocked out.”
The chaotic scene was the fighters’ final chance to boost interest in their bout, which will be streamed live by Netflix on Friday night. Chances are, it will be one of the most-watched fights of the year.
Undisputed light-welterweight champion Katie Taylor and her opponent Amanda Serrano conducted a much more professional weigh-in for their undercard clash. Both made weight easily before they faced off in a much more cordial manner than Tyson and Paul.
“I told her this is our time,” Serrano revealed. “Let’s do the same thing we did two years ago. This is the defining moment for all women in boxing. This is our time. We worked really hard to be in this position.”
The two men squaring off against one another is a reminder for just how unusual the fight is. Not only will it be live on Netflix — a strange proposition for the streaming platform — but it will also the former heavyweight champion of the world, now nearing 60 years old, against a YouTuber who has been in a fight camp for years.
While some may be hoping for Paul and Tyson to box authentically, another group will feel that the weigh-in antics are a testament to how the fight will go down.