“Really bad for Jake Paul,” Lennox Lewis believes that Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul should not be a professionally sanctioned fight for Paul’s safety

Lennox Lewis believes that the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight not being professionally sanctioned is a good thing for Paul.

Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson and Jake Paul (image credit- Marca, The Guardian)

The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight continues to make headlines. This has caused several notable figures in the combat sports world to talk about it. As such, Tyson’s rival and former heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis, has also shared his opinion. Furthermore, Lewis is relieved that the fight is an exhibition and not an official fight.

Most of the concern sparked by the fight has been directed towards 57-year-old Tyson. However, Lewis is glad that the fight is an exhibition fight because he is concerned for Tyson’s rival. Subsequently, during an interview with TMZ Sports, Lewis was asked whether he wanted the fight to be professionally sanctioned, and he replied:

No, cause I would feel really bad for Jake Paul. I don't want him to get hurt.

Lennox Lewis via TMZ Sports

This was a surprising opinion, which was quite different compared to what other people have said about the fight. According to most people, Tyson should not even be fighting at his age. Hence, the common notion is that the former champion is risking his health by fighting against the 27-year-old.

However, Tyson’s former opponent is instead happy that the fight is not professionally sanctioned since, according to him, Paul would have gotten hurt. Lewis has also previously expressed his confidence in Tyson winning through UFC gameplay of the fight.

Mike Tyson says the exhibition fight is a real fight

The rumors about the fight have finally started to get cleared out as we approach the fight. Some of the rumors were that Jake Paul and Tyson would wear headgear and 18-ounce gloves, and no knockouts would be allowed. However, the former champion has himself dismissed the rumors and revealed the truth now.
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson (image credit- DAZN, Marca)
Mike Tyson appeared on Fox News to promote and speak about his upcoming live Netflix boxing event. As such, Iron Mike revealed that there will be no headgear or 18-ounce gloves. Furthermore, he stated that the rules of the fight will adhere to the rules of an exhibition fight. However, Tyson then stated:

This is called an exhibition, but if you look up exhibition, you will not see any of the laws that we're fighting under. This is a fight.

Mike Tyson via Fox News

Hence, while Tyson dismissed the rumors surrounding the fight, he also confirmed that it was an exhibition fight. Furthermore, Tyson stated that the rules of the exhibition fight are similar to those of an actual fight. This implies that the fight might not be professionally sanctioned but will be carried out as a real fight.