Current:Home > ContactJake Paul the villain? Boxer discusses meeting Mike Tyson face to face before their fight -Profound Wealth Insights
Jake Paul the villain? Boxer discusses meeting Mike Tyson face to face before their fight
View
Date:2025-04-17 01:23:06
Jake Paul has a decision to make.
It involves Mike Tyson, of course, but not strictly their heavyweight fight scheduled for July 20 in Texas.
To promote the heavyweight bout, Paul and Tyson will meet face-to-face Monday in New York and again Thursday in Arlington, Texas, site of the event to be broadcast by Netflix. Soon Paul must decide how to behave, and like a jerk is a clear option.
Paul, 27, has insulted, baited, ridiculed and generally disrespected most of his opponents. But he affectionately refers to his next opponent as "Uncle Mike" and has expressed reverence for the 57-year-old Tyson.
"I’m a little torn as to my approach for a multitude of reasons …," Paul said on the most recent episode of his podcast. "But the main thing is, I, like, put on this character of like being brash and cocky and all of these things and draw a lot of hate for that.
"And I could easily go as the villain and the bad guy. I think it’s fun. I love doing it, I’m great at it. But I thought it’d be really funny if I just got up there and was just fully myself."
Who is the real Jake Paul?
Paul suggests the public has not seen his authentic self.
"First of all, I don’t like talking to people," he said on his podcast. "I don’t like all the (expletive). Like I do it because it’s what I believe is part of my destiny and all these things and I’ve been good at it since I was a kid."
Showing a softer side, Paul started a 501 (c)(3) non-profit called Boxing Bullies. The mission is "to instill self confidence, leadership, and courage within the youth through the sport of boxing while using our platform, voice, and social media to fight back against bullying."
According to the Boxing Bullies website, the non-profit has raised more than $400,000 and is in the process of renovating five boxing gyms.
Paul boosted women’s boxing when he signed Amanda Serrano to Most Valuable Promotions, the company he founded. Serrano’s fight against Katie Taylor will be the co-main event July 20.
He also called on UFC president Dana White to substantially increase compensation for the fighters.
Yet what lingers is the memory of the final press conference before Paul’s third pro fight, against Ben Askren. who said, "It’s pretty amazing how many people don’t like you. I actually find it pretty impressive, your ability to be disliked."
Can Jake Paul rein himself in?
Paul has shown restraint.
It happened before his sixth pro fight, against legendary UFC fighter Anderson Silva, whom Paul said he idolized growing up.
"Anderson Silva is the nicest guy in the world and we love him," Paul said. "If my opponent is (an expletive), I’m going to treat him like (an expletive) and beat his (expletive). And I think people have seen that side of me.
"But I respect this man. I’m still going to knock him out, but respectfully knock him out."
Paul’s last two opponents, Andre August and Ryan Borland, were all but devoid of trash talk and arrogance. But Paul mocked August after knocking him out in the first round and mimicked Borland’s slow speech after stopping him with a first-round TKO.
Now comes Tyson, and Paul said he’s contemplating the possibility of playing it low-key in the presence of "Uncle Mike."
"The fight wouldn’t be necessarily as big," said Paul, who grew up outside of Cleveland. "But it would be funny if I just got up there when they were asking me questions … like I’m just a kid from Ohio."
veryGood! (84723)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Hanukkah Lights 2023
- Trump tells supporters, ‘Guard the vote.’ Here’s the phrase’s backstory and why it’s raising concern
- The White House is threatening the patents of high-priced drugs developed with taxpayer dollars
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Vegas shooter who killed 3 was a professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV, AP source says
- AP PHOTOS: In 2023, calamities of war and disaster were unleashed again on an unsettled Middle East
- Court largely sides with Louisiana sheriff’s deputies accused in lawsuit of using excessive force
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- Facebook and Instagram are steering child predators to kids, New Mexico AG alleges
Ranking
- Trump's 'stop
- Who are the Houthis and why hasn’t the US retaliated for their attacks on ships in the Middle East?
- McDonald's plans to add about 10,000 new stores worldwide by 2027; increase use of AI
- It's one of the biggest experiments in fighting global poverty. Now the results are in
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Her alcoholic father died and missed her wedding. She forgives him anyway.
- What to know about Hanukkah and how it’s celebrated around the world
- Azerbaijan to hold snap presidential election on February 7, shortly before Russia’s vote
Recommendation
Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
Sara Bareilles admits she was 'freaked out' recording 'Waitress' live musical movie
Azerbaijan to hold snap presidential election on February 7, shortly before Russia’s vote
Indonesia ends search for victims of eruption at Mount Marapi volcano that killed 23 climbers
Former longtime South Carolina congressman John Spratt dies at 82
Tony Hawk Shares First Glimpse of Son Riley’s Wedding to Frances Bean Cobain
Watch this unsuspecting second grader introduce her Army mom as a special guest
Climate talks shift into high gear. Now words and definitions matter at COP28