Since Jake Paul took to boxing, he left some top fighters suffering humiliating defeats in his wake. Constantly accused of not fighting real boxers, with his only loss coming at the hands of a pro-boxer in Tommy Fury, ‘The Problem Child’ seems unfazed by the wave of criticism constantly directed his way. Now that Paul is set to face legend Mike Tyson on November 15th, folks have doubled down on the criticism of Paul for choosing an opponent almost 30 years his senior. Still, Tyson’s boxing skills are the stuff of legend, and it will be interesting to see Paul fight someone with the championship level experience of ‘Iron Mike’.

While many fans are excited for this matchup with even some cheers for Jake Paul, not everyone shares this sentiment—especially UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith. Recently, on Michael Bisping’s ‘Believe You Me’ podcast, Smith shared his blunt opinion on Jake Paul, labeling his approach as “fake” and “manufactured.” He even suggested that Paul face other opponents to earn “a little respect.”

Smith further drove his point further by stating, “He’s never going to be respected by his peers or by anybody whose opinion is worth hearing. He’ll never get that respect because now… now he’s a bully. It’s even worse if he wins. Like, you think it’d be bad if he loses? It’ll be a hundred times worse if he wins.” This upcoming boxing match marks the return of Mike Tyson after his hiatus following his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. Since then, ‘Iron Mike’ has stayed out of the spotlight, but this new matchup is sure to bring him back into the mainstream.

However, the fight has raised concerns, with some critics questioning its value. Renowned promoter Eddie Hearn has distanced himself from the event, calling it “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” expressing disappointment for the sport of boxing. Joining Hearn is Dana White who adding to the growing criticism surrounding the matchup.

Dana White’s harsh take on Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

UFC president Dana White shares a similar perspective on the upcoming boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson as Anthony Smith. A veteran of the fight business for over two decades and a longtime associate of Tyson, White was initially skeptical about Tyson’s 2020 exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr., but he was eventually impressed by his friend’s performance. However, White is far from pleased with Jake Paul’s approach to building his boxing career.

During a recent appearance on the ‘Pound 4 Pound’ podcast with Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman, White criticized ‘The Problem Child’ for targeting veterans and retired fighters to make a name for himself. White remarked, “There will be a 31-year age difference. You know, Jake Paul did fight a kid his age, and he lost.”

White continued, “I saw this thing on the internet yesterday. If he beats Mike Tyson, he’s going to fight Clint Eastwood next. Clint Eastwood is 93 years old. He doesn’t [want to be taken seriously as a boxer]. What Jake wants is Jake wants to make money. The people that follow Jake Paul don’t buy Jake Paul’s fights. So, Jake Paul has to fight people that actually sell pay-per-views.”

What’s your take on Anthony Smith’s remarks? Do you agree with his views on the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson? Considering ‘Iron Mike’ is well past his prime and nearing retirement, could this fight pose serious risks to both Tyson and Paul, potentially harming their legacies? Share your thoughts below.