Jake Paul Rejects Reports That a Mike Tyson Fight Was in Talks

Social media star Jake Paul explains that he’d have no issue with facing former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in an exhibition fight – but denies recent reports that the two of them were in talks to face each other.

Paul considers Tyson a friend, but he’s open to the possibility of trading punches with him in the ring.

According to Paul, the two sides have not even discussed the idea.

“It’s not real. I would fight him, though, but there were never any discussions about that,” Paul told The MMA Hour. “He said it himself, I saw him in St Barts on New Year’s and it was very cordial. We took a picture together… he’s a friend.

“If we were to fight, it would be weird. I don’t know if I’d want that but there have been no discussions.”

Tyson recently explained that he’s no longer interested in pursuing exhibition fights in the future. The Hall of Famer returned to the ring in the fall of 2020, and fought to an eight round draw with fellow former world champion Roy Jones Jr.

“I’m not even interested in doing this stuff,” Tyson said.

“It was just fun at first. If it was back when I first started, yes, and we were both fighting on the same card and both active, yeah, we could do it. But, it just turned … it just turned bad. It didn’t turn out right.

“I wanted to do it the first time just for fun to have fun and then some people took it to another level and made it financial, and then the fun went out of it.”

Paul was in action back in December, when he secured a brutal one-punch knockout in the sixth round of his rematch with former UFC champion Tyron Woodley.