Randy Couture is the latest legend to weigh in on Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson.
The controversial fight between a 27-year-old YouTuber and one of boxing’s biggest icons is set to go down at AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 15.
Tyson’s old rivals, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, give him a chance of pulling off an upset, but many people are concerned that the 58-year-old could get badly hurt when he fights a much younger man.
‘The Natural’, a former two-weight UFC champion who fought until he was 47, believes that although ‘Iron Mike’ is no longer in his fighting prime, he’s thriving in one area more than he ever has.
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Randy Couture previews Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson
In an exclusive interview with BloodyElbow’s James Sweetnam, Randy Couture talked with excitement about Tyson’s chances and highlighted an area in his life where the beloved KO artist is better than he was during his reign at the top.
“I mean, it’s interesting,” Couture said. “Seeing the training footage of Tyson and having been around Tyson in recent years with the PFL and here in Vegas, it’s a more settled, grounded, and more self-actualized Mike Tyson at this stage of his life, than even I think when he was at his peak in boxing.
“His wife, and everything going on in his life, is all positive. I think he’s more grounded and in touch with himself than he’s ever been. And he’s still physically very, very capable.”
Dillon Danis started a rumor about the former Disney star inserting no knockout clauses into his opponent’s fight contract, but Paul has always denied it. Unfortunately for him, that hasn’t been enough to convince everyone he’s telling the truth.
Couture is concerned Tyson will be at a disadvantage when he enters the rings as a professional for the first time since 2005.
He added: “What’s intriguing to me about this is, is there a no-knockout clause in that contract? That’s the rumor that’s floating around, that Jake is loading these contracts and skewing it a bit.
“I don’t know why Mike would sign a contract like that. I mean, what was Mike known for? Knocking guys out. If Jake Paul wants to step up and fight Mike Tyson, then he can’t put in a clause like that. Let Mike do what Mike does and deal with that. That would be interesting to me.”
Randy Couture likes Jake Paul’s fighter pay stance
Couture and Paul are both vocal when it comes to campaigning for better fighter pay and conditions.
‘The Problem Child’ famously fell out with Dana White over the divisive topic before signing a deal that will see him fight in MMA for the PFL in 2025.
Regardless of what he thinks of him as a fighter, Couture believes having someone like Paul attached to MMA will be good for the sport moving forward.
He concluded: “Jake Paul is certainly poking Dana White in the chest about fighter pay with all these crossover matches with Tyron Woodley, Ben Askren and Anderson Silva.
“So many of those guys have made way more money in those single boxing matches than they’ve ever made in MMA.
“If Jake Paul wants to shine a light on those disparaging differences in our sports, then you’ve got to get behind a guy like Jake Paul.”
