Jake Paul remains resolute in his desire to fight boxing legend Mike Tyson, even after announcing a new match against ex-UFC fighter Mike Perry for July 20.
In an exclusive interview with The Post, Paul expressed his eagerness to step into the ring with Tyson, emphasizing that the decision ultimately lies with the former heavyweight champion.
“If Tyson wants it, I’m down,” Paul told The Post. “The keys are in his hands, and it would be such an honor to step in there with him. Mike Tyson is the one who wanted it to be a pro fight.
He’s saying he’s fine, he’s saying he’s ready, and all of these things. We’re not Mike Tyson’s dad, we’re not his boss, and if Mike Tyson wants the fight, it would be my honor and I’m down to do it.”
Initially scheduled for July 20 at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, the Tyson-Paul fight was postponed due to a medical issue affecting Tyson, who will be 58 in July.
Despite this setback, Paul assured that there are no obstacles preventing the fight from happening in November, reiterating Tyson’s readiness and commitment to the bout.
“He’s ready to go; he just needed a couple of weeks, so he’s back to training,” Paul said of Tyson. “We’re all just praying and hoping that everything is good and he stays healthy.
That’s first and foremost; he’s Mike Tyson at the end of the day. He has lethal knockout power and is very, very experienced. I think it is going to be a brawl regardless.”
In the meantime, Paul will face Mike Perry in a match he describes as a “warm-up” to stay active. Known for his aggressive style and multiple legal troubles, Perry presents a formidable challenge.
Paul sees the fight as an opportunity to maintain his competitive edge and take risks that set him apart in the boxing world.
“I just want to take a risk,” Paul said. “I think I am crazy for this; I definitely am because I don’t think anyone would take the risk in this position, but that’s just what makes me different. I’m not slowing down for anyone and I want to stay active in the gym.”
Paul’s approach to trash-talking Perry, who has had a history of violent incidents, including assault charges, is strategic. Paul believes he can use psychological tactics to unnerve Perry, a fighter with a volatile temperament.
“I think those types of men are the people I like to talk s–t to the most because there’s not much there, and they get riled up really easily, and you can talk them in circles,” Paul said of Perry.
“And then they like to stumble on their words, and then they freak out because all they have done their whole lives is just punch people because they are angry, so he’s actually the perfect person I like to talk s–t to.”
Despite Perry’s troubled past, he has made strides to turn his life around, now a middleweight champion in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and a father of two. Paul and Perry have sparred before, with Paul claiming to have dominated their sessions.
“I just controlled him for five rounds,” Paul said. “He came forward a lot and had great cardio, took a lot of shots, but at the end of the day, I got the best of him.”
This upcoming fight with Perry will mark Paul’s sixth bout against an MMA fighter in his last 11 fights. Paul has one loss in his professional boxing career, which came against Tommy Fury, the younger half-brother of Tyson Fury.
Additionally, Paul has expressed interest in stepping into the MMA ring, having signed a contract with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), though no fight has been scheduled yet.
“If they really want to get into the MMA s–t, we can run it,” Paul said, referring to the MMA fighters he’s brought into the boxing ring. “We have been trying to make an MMA fight happen.
We tried with Nate Diaz but to no avail. So it’s been difficult to find the right opponent for that. But we’re working behind the scenes and doing promotional stuff for them, and I’ll be attending some fights soon.”
Perry was originally set to fight Dillon Danis, a controversial MMA figure, but opted to face Paul instead for a more lucrative opportunity. Paul hinted that there was no specific motivation behind choosing Perry, aside from the challenge and the chance to stay active.
With the new fight date for Tyson and Paul set for November 15, fans eagerly anticipate what promises to be an electrifying showdown. In the meantime, Paul’s bout with Perry will keep the excitement alive as he continues to build his reputation in the boxing world.
