Jake Paul has suggested either him or Mike Tyson ‘has to die’ in their upcoming fight.
The YouTube star will take on the 57-year-old heavyweight veteran in a fight on July 20, which has been confirmed to be a sanctioned professional bout.
Justifiable concerns have been raised over the health of the former undisputed heavyweight champion who hasn’t fought professionally since losing to Kevin McBride and retiring in 2005.
And Paul’s latest comments, when attending the Miami Grand Prix won by Lando Norris, have raised further alarm over Tyson’s physical well-being come fight night.
He said: “It’s war; all is fair in love and war. I love the guy, but as soon as it turned into a pro fight, one of us has to die.
“He’s taking this very, very seriously and that’s what’s going to make the fight amazing for all the fans.
“He’s a killer. I’m moving up to the heavyweight division so he’s going to have some advantages but that’s what’s going to make this fight exciting.
“We both have one-punch knockout power. This is what he was destined to do and what he was born for.
“And he was the one who wanted it to be a pro fight. We were figuring out the rules and Mike said, ‘I want it to be a pro fight. I want to end this kid and stop everything he’s doing.’
“So I agreed to make it a pro fight and it’s as real as it gets.”
Tyson has received multiple medical warnings given he will be 58 years old by the time he steps into the ring.
He made a comeback in a 2020 exhibition with Roy Jones Jr, but the contest was much more evenly matched and in safer conditions.
In a bid to prove his fitness, Tyson has posted multiple clips from his training camp of him crashing the pads, which has drawn nervous public reactions from Paul.
Fans have even called for the pair to cancel the fight, but it will be going full steam ahead.
The ‘Problem Child’ even claimed it was Tyson who initiated talks to make the contest count on the pairs’ records.
“I just want to make it clear that Mike Tyson is the one who wanted it to be a professional fight,” he said on his podcast.
“I said to Nakisa [Bidarian – MVP co-founder], if that is what Mike wants that is fine, but make sure you tell Mike there is no holding back.
“Whatever happens now happens and this is war now.
“If he puts me down I can deal with that, but if I put him down, he needs to be the one making the decision on whether or not he can deal with it.”