Thirty years’ age difference? Who cares? It hardly matters when Mike Tyson is willing to go to the extremes to make Jake Paul regret challenging him when they finally meet at the AT&T Stadium on July 20. But, after hearing what he mentioned in his latest interview, some of the fans might be wondering if they missed anything during his last exhibition. Did ‘Superman’ escape the wrath of ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’? It might appear so. After all, the match with Roy Jones Jr. on November 28, 2020, was far removed from the brutal early stoppages Tyson forced on his opponents back in the past.
Against the much younger and stronger Jake Paul, the equation runs on different seams, though. Hence, the former heavyweight champion could be expected to invoke the ‘beast mode’. However, that warrants surrendering things that he loves doing.
Mike Tyson: Beyond Temptation, Pursuing Glory with Grit and Determination
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In an interview with Forbes, Mike Tyson set the context for what he has been up to in the lead-up to the Jake Paul fight. Incidentally, ‘The Problem Child’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) shared excerpts of that conversation through its Instagram handle. Their message read, “Mike Tyson hasn’t smoked weed or had s*x in 6 weeks to ensure he beats Jake Paul on July 20th…”
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‘Iron Mike revealed that it’s been six weeks since he has had his ‘high’ or his fill of physical intimacy. So the reporter from Forbes asked, “Can you bring me through like your mindset, like why putting aside cannabis for for the fight specifically, like what is in that decision?”
Mike Tyson revealed that it all boils down to discipline. He said, “It’s just discipline. You know, discipline is doing what you love to do what you love to do doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it. You know, I hate not being able to smoke. I’m doing it like I love it. I hate not to be able to sleep with my wife. I’m doing it like I love it.”
Perhaps the reporter still had his doubts. Therefore, he wanted to know. “Is there something like that that cannabis does that you don’t want?” He asked. Mike Tyson replied that it had nothing to do with it. “No, it’s no; it has nothing to do; it’s because I want it, I won’t do it,” said the former heavyweight champion.
Those Laid-Back Days
To many fans and followers, it might appear quite confusing. After all, per the available accounts, right through the training camp leading the Jones Jr. fight, the fight day, and the day following, Tyson admitted to using cannabis. Seemingly, Mike Tyson wanted to ‘disable’ Roy Jones Jr. in the fight. But the match ended with a split decision draw.
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During the post-match press conference, he reportedly said, “Listen, I can’t stop smoking. I smoked during fights. I just have to smoke. I’m sorry. I’m a smoker… I smoke every day. I never stopped smoking … It’s just who I am.”
Incidentally, on the same fight night, Jake Paul fought his second professional bout. He knocked out former NBA point guard Nate Robinson in the second round of their match.
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However, against Jake Paul, the stakes could be different. ‘The Problem Child’ considers the match against Mike Tyson as the ‘biggest fight of his life’. Hence, he could be entering the ring, full guns blazing. Mike Tyson can hardly take a chance. Given the charge from a much younger and more active boxer, he has to prepare himself to the fullest. If that demands some sacrifice of his own accord, then, as he mentioned in the interview, he might as well go ahead and do it.
Do you believe that Jake Paul stands any chance against Mike Tyson? Please share your views with us in the comments below.