The iconic ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live! hosted Mike Tyson, who spoke about his highly anticipated return to the ring on November 15. This comes four years after he fought Roy Jones Jr. in an exhibition. The announcement caught many by surprise: ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, now 58 and retired, will face 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. On one side stands Tyson, a former heavyweight champion and one of the most revered figures in the sport. On the other is Paul, a relatively new face in boxing who had his first professional bout four years ago!

The fight was initially scheduled for July 20. The boxing world was still mulling over the concerns about the sheer age gap and Tyson’s inactivity. However, their worst fears came true as news of the legend’s mid-flight ulcer flare-up surfaced. As a result, the fight was postponed and received a new date, November 15. The venue remains the same: AT&T Stadium in Texas. Gradually recovering from the setback, a few reports revealed Tyson resuming his training. So with just a month and a half left, Mike Tyson opened about his comeback and his preparation for the challenge.

During his conversation with Kimmel, Tyson reflected on his prime years, when he was at the peak of his mental and physical capabilities. He fondly remembered how he could perceive almost everything happening in the arena. Kimmel chimed in, revealing how the upcoming fight with Jake Paul captivated him. He said, “I don’t know if you realize that every middle-aged man is rooting for you within an intensity that almost makes no sense, like I really want you to beat this guy.”

To everyone’s amusement, Mike Tyson replied that he never considered himself a ‘middle-aged’ man. Kimmel then clarified that he was referring to himself and others of his generation. However, Tyson continued with his point that the discourse on age is a convoluted one. He gave Julius Caser’s example. The historical figure is often credited with giving the world the Julian Calendar, which standardized the concept of a 365-day year.

It would have been difficult to gauge a person’s age before the Julian calendar came into being, argued Tyson. Hence, despite being older, he actually felt quite good about himself in the current situation. Nevertheless, Jimmy Kimmel persisted, “You feel like you’re fighting for something other than just Mike Tyson; you’re feeling like you’re fighting for guys your age in a way people your age?”

The youngest heavyweight champion in history shot back, “I’ve never thought that before in my life.”

Mike Tyson: Risks and Preparations

Later in the interview, Mike Tyson shared insights into his preparation for the fight. He mentioned that Jake Paul fought on the undercard of the Roy Jones bout. There was a shock in place for Kimmel when he checked with Mike Tyson about his training schedule. The living legend revealed that he is following a rigorous regimen. He commences his workouts by eleven in the morning. Even as Kimmel struggled to fathom the timings, Tyson further added that he would be at the gym till 5 pm in the evening.

Mike Tyson is going against an opponent who had made his intentions on stopping him early in the rounds. Hence, the former heavyweight champion might have to go back to his early days when he used to drop his opponents even before the fights reached halfway. Concerns over his health remain. But many fans eagerly anticipate the prospect of him delivering another knockout performance.

Irrespective of the outcome, who would you like Jake Paul to fight after the Tyson match?