Mike Tyson on Wednesday night cut a quiet and subdued figure ahead of his Texas showdown with Jake Paul, while the YouTuber provided the energy at the pre-fight press conference.
‘Iron Mike’, 58, said just 27 words – one for every year since his opponent was born – in response to reporter questions, clearly uninterested in engaging Paul in a headline-grabbing war of words the event was designed for.
“I’m just ready to fight,” he said flatly at various times, adding: “I’m just happy to be here.”
Paul described Tyson’s demeanour as “boring”, telling his opponent: “There’s been a lot of s**t talk online, you saying you’re going to kill me, and just nothing in person. It’s… I don’t know, it’s pretty boring. Pretty f*****g boring.”
He added: “I want him to be that old savage Mike … I want that killer. I want the hardest match possible Friday night and I want there to be no excuses from anyone when I knock him out.”
Paul, in an apparent attempt to get more energy in the room, challenged every fighter on the undercard who predicted a Tyson win to put their money where their mouth is.
“I will shake all your hands and take your money,” Paul said to Mario Barrios, Neeraj Goyat and even Katie Taylor. “I will get these contracts signed.”
He added to the undefeated NABF and WBO inter-continental featherweight champion Bruce Carrington: “I make more money in the time I take a s**t than you will your whole life. Shut the f*** up.”
Paul and Tyson face off in Texas on Friday night, with the event streamed live on Netflix.
