Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul during a fiery face-off on Thursday, just one day before their Netflix-backed bout. The unexpected slap happened at the formal weigh-in held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Tyson, now 58, stepped onto the scales in Versace briefs, weighing 228.4 pounds. After delivering the slap, he kept his comments brief, saying, “Talking’s over,” before leaving with his entourage.
Jake Paul, the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, downplayed the incident, saying, “I didn’t even feel it. He’s an angry little elf… cute slap, buddy.” Paul, who weighed in at 227.2 pounds, ended his speech with bold claims, vowing to knock Tyson out and yelling theatrically, “He must die.”
Tyson’s $20 Million Payday for Eight-Round Fight
Tyson is reportedly earning $20 million for this eight-round, two-minute-per-round fight, streamed live on Netflix. However, the bout has stirred controversy in the boxing world, with many questioning Tyson’s return nearly 40 years after his debut and 19 years after his last sanctioned fight.