As the countdown to their fight at AT&T Stadium in Texas continues, Jake Paul and Mike Tyson faced off in their final press conference on Wednesday, revealing a clear contrast in their approaches.
IRVING, Texas – Both Mike Tyson and Jake Paul insisted they were ready for their upcoming fight at AT&T Stadium on Friday, but only one of them made a memorable impression at the press conference.
Paul, always the showman, made a dramatic entrance with something shiny around his right ear.
“I’m not getting my (expletive) bit off on Friday night, so I got my diamond-spiked ear covers right here,” Paul said, referencing Tyson’s infamous ear-biting incident during his 1997 fight with Evander Holyfield.
Tyson, however, didn’t respond to Paul’s jab. This was a noticeable shift from the usually animated Tyson, who had been more lively during previous media appearances. As the fight drew nearer, Tyson seemed increasingly disengaged and distant.
Netflix, which will livestream the fight, also broadcast the press conference—the last one before the big night—highlighting the stark contrast between the two fighters.
Paul, 27, showed up in a black sleeveless T-shirt dusted with glitter and sporting sunglasses. He exuded confidence as he addressed Tyson: “I fear no man, so I want him to bring that old savage Mike. I’m ready. I want the hardest fight possible, and when I knock him out, I want there to be no excuses.”
Paul then looked at Tyson, sitting about 15 feet away, and asked, “So is that what you’re going to bring, homicidal?”
Tyson, 58, wore a simple black T-shirt and dark denim jacket. When Paul asked if Tyson planned to unleash the same brutal aggression he was once known for, Tyson sat motionless, staring ahead.
After a long silence, Tyson finally spoke, saying simply, “I’m just ready.”
The press conference wrapped up with host Ariel Helwani polling the 12 other fighters on the undercard about who they thought would win the Tyson-Paul fight. Nine picked Tyson to win, while three voted for Paul.
Despite the mixed predictions, Paul remains the betting favorite heading into the match.
The two will meet again at Thursday’s weigh-in before stepping into the ring on Friday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
