Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, is raising the stakes for his upcoming showdown against boxing legend Mike Tyson by betting his entire $40 million (£31 million) purse on the fight’s outcome. Scheduled for this Friday in Dallas, the bout marks Tyson’s return to the ring after nearly two decades.
Despite Tyson’s reputation as a former undisputed heavyweight champion, Paul, 31 years his junior, is the bookmakers’ favorite. During a pre-fight face-off, Paul even took on wagers from other fighters, including Neeraj Goyat, who bet his $1 million house.
Katie Taylor, preparing for a rematch with Amanda Serrano, upped the ante when she asked Paul, “Do you want to bet your purse?” Paul didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, let’s bet the purse. Deal,” he replied, sealing it with a handshake.
While many doubt the high-stakes bets will go through, Paul claims he’s serious and plans to have contracts drawn up by Friday. Known for his bold talk, Paul recently reminded reporters of his intentions in the ring.
“I didn’t bring Tyson in to ‘validate’ my career,” Paul asserted. “I’m here to make $40 million and knock out a legend. I don’t care about anything else. He wanted a pro fight, and he’s going to get knocked out for real.”
With his usual bravado, Paul declared, “You’re going to see on his record: Jake Paul KOs Mike Tyson. Every fighter who looks at me and calls me a ‘YouTuber’ ends up on the canvas. This time won’t be any different. I brought him this deal; we signed with Netflix, and he owes me for this shot.”
Tyson, however, seemed less amused. During the final press conference, he gave short, clipped responses, showing frustration when asked about the possibility of losing to Paul. “I’ve said everything I need to say,” Tyson insisted, trying to close the topic. When pressed further, he replied with quiet conviction, “I’m not going to lose.”
Paul, undeterred, couldn’t resist one last jab. “That’s cute. I want him to be that savage Mike of old, but I fear no man.”
The tension is palpable as the boxing world gears up for this unexpected clash between a YouTube star and one of the sport’s all-time greats.