Sugar Ray Leonard Sums Up Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson in Two Lines

The Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul clash is drawing plenty of attention ahead of their highly anticipated bout. Scheduled to unfold on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the build up has already seen names like Deontay Wilder and Tyson’s former rival Lennox Lewis share their worry and thoughts. Now, legendary boxer and five-division champion Sugar Ray Leonard has talked about the match that will be streamed live on Netflix.

Paul and Tyson just got done with their second press conference in Texas, which saw the boxers throw some fiery words at each other. Meanwhile, a reporter from Fight Hype caught up with ‘Sugar Ray’ on the eve of his birthday and decided to probe him about the upcoming clash. The former undisputed welterweight champion summed up his thoughts on the fight using just two lines. 

Does Sugar Ray Leonard have any advice for Mike Tyson

There is a 31-year age gap between the two boxers, a record in professional boxing history. This has also led to some concerns about whether it is ideal for Tyson to be boxing at the age of 58, having last fought a professional match 2005. Though he did compete in an exhibition match in 2020, his health hasn’t been the same.

As the reporter spoke with Leonard about community matters, he pressed him on Tyson’s fight, focusing on the age gap. To this, the 68-year-old boxer first said, “Put it this way, a lot of people [are] gonna watch that fight. Okay,” adding, “I’m one of them.” Despite the criticism, the fight has also garnered attention, and it is likely many people world wide will be tuning in for one reason or another.

Jake Paul comes with an internet fan base of his own that will be eager to see how he does. Tyson, on the other hand, is as big a name in combat sports as they come. Those who watched him in his prime will likely cast their eyes on how the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ will do against the celebrity boxer.

When Leonard was asked about whether he had any advice for Tyson, he had a humble answer ready.

The legendary boxer said, “He doesn’t need advice, right?” ‘Sugar Ray’ isn’t wrong here—Tyson has fought countless formidable opponents throughout his career spanning 20 years. Even when he made his comeback in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr., the youngest heavyweight champion was as aggressive as ever, something even Jones has acknowledged. 

In May last year, ‘Sugar’ had appeared on Mike Tyson’s podcast, ‘Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson’ where shared admiration between both the legends was apparent through their conversations. The Wilmington-born boxer recalled seeing Tyson for the very first time on HBO. He was enamored by ‘Iron Mike’s intensity and left hooks which always ensured a packed audience. In fact, Leonard was cheering at the venue when Mike fought Roy Jones Jr during his exhibition fight.

While Leonard sounds eager to watch Tyson take on Jake Paul, there is skepticism and concern as well. Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder expressed his reservations around the bout.

He said, “I think it’s bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn’t been active in 20 years, so they should not just licence him because of who he is, that’s how people get hurt, god forbid he gets hurt,” Wilder told Sportsbook Review. He also labeled the bout as a “clown show” and something, “I don’t want to see it to be honest.”

Wilder also believes that Tyson could end tarnishing his legacy, adding, “I don’t want the last thing I remember of him is him getting knocked out by a YouTuber. The last thing you do, that’s what people remember you by.” However, Lennox Lewis, who famously KO’d Tyson in their 2002 bout said he was excited to his former in-ring adversary back in action and even backed him to come out on top.

Lewis stated, “I’m concerned for Jake Paul. Tyson still knows how to punch, as you can see when he’s hitting a bag. If Jake Paul gets hit by one of those punches, he’s going to feel it. I know Jake Paul doesn’t want to get hit. Tyson comes forward and he knows how to cut off the ring. It could be a matter of time.”

While Lewis backs Tyson to win and Leonard doesn’t think Tyson needs any advice to defeat “The Problem Child,” Paul is confident about what he is going to do, come fight night.

Jake Paul promises to do the unthinkable

Despite the sheer age gap, Tyson has always been adamant about his fight against Jake being a proper professional fight. Even though the fight was previously thought of as an exhibition, it was later revealed that the fight was being sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, adding a whole new level of intrigue.  

Since then, Paul has suggested that now things are even more serious because the results of this fight would reflect on both of their records. Tyson has a 50-6 win-loss record and Paul currently has one defeat and nine wins from his pro career. Not to mention, their press conference on May 16 reflected the newfound animosity between them, which was the polar opposite of the calmer first press conference. 

Last Thursday, as the duo went back and forth, ‘The Problem Child’ got into a screaming competition with the crowd itself, who were chanting “F**k Jake Paul.” It was nothing new for the younger Paul brother, so he told the crowd, “Hey, I hope y’all keep that same energy when I knock this old man the f**k out.”

With over a month left in the fight, Sugar Ray Leonard has shared his thoughts on the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight. But the question is, can Mike Tyson live up to these expectations at the age of 58? Will his experience prevail over Paul’s youth? It remains to be seen. Until then, we would like to get your thoughts on the matter.