Jake Paul has boldly wagered his entire $40million purse on the outcome of his upcoming bout with boxing legend Mike Tyson, set to take place this Friday. The YouTube sensation is slated to go head-to-head with Tyson in an eight-round match in Dallas, marking Tyson’s first professional fight in nearly two decades.
Despite being 31 years younger than the former undisputed heavyweight champion, Paul is tipped as the favorite by bookmakers. As the fighters faced off for the penultimate time before the main event, Paul accepted bets from several undercard fighters on the fight’s outcome.
Neeraj Goyat even staked his house, which he claims is worth $1m. However, Katie Taylor, who is set to face Amanda Serrano in a highly anticipated rematch, raised the stakes even higher.
When Paul asked Taylor how much she wanted to bet, the undisputed world champion challenged him: “Do you want to bet your purse?”.
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Without hesitation, Paul agreed to the wager, responding: “Yeah, let’s bet the purse. Deal,” and shook Taylor’s hand. While few expect these wagers to hold, Paul insists that contracts will be drawn up before Friday night.
Earlier this year, Paul bragged about his earnings from his 12th professional fight. When asked if he brought Tyson onboard to lend “validity” to his boxing career, Paul retorted: “I didn’t bring him to do s***; I’m here to make $40million and knock out a legend I don’t give a —- about anything else, he’s the one who wanted it to be a pro fight and he’s going to get his ass knocked out for real.”
Paul has boasted about his upcoming match with boxing legend Tyson, saying, “You’re going to see on his record; Jake Paul KOs Mike Tyson; I’m not here to do —- except make a bag.
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Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Netflix)
“Every time fighters sit across from me and it’s ‘YouTuber this and Disney kid that’ and they end up on the canvas… this is going to be no different.”
Meanwhile, Tyson, who appeared tired at the last press conference, provided only brief replies and showed irritation when asked about the possibility of defeat by Paul. “I’ve said everything I had to say,” Tyson declared, rebuffing further attempts to provoke a response. “I’m just looking forward to fighting.”
When pressed again about losing, Tyson made his stance clear, stating emphatically, “I am not going to lose,” and challenging, “Did you hear what I said?”
Unfazed, Paul said: “It’s cute. I fear no man, so I want him to be that old savage Mike.”