Teddy Atlas warns Jake Paul of Mike Tyson’s quick start.
Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs) meets Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) in a Netflix special event Friday at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The bout is scheduled for eight, two-minute rounds.
The 58-year-old boxing legend threw up blood when he suffered an ulcer medical emergency which caused his initial booking with Paul to shift from July to November. Atlas says if Tyson’s team gave the green light to compete, he’d like to think he’s healthy.
“Obviously he’s OK, and that’s good,” Atlas said in an interview with Pro Boxing Fans. “That’s his choice, his family’s choice. He knows if he can come back. Obviously, it’s something that he overcame physically. It wasn’t that serious. Obviously, he’s of good health.
“The people around him believe he’s of good health. I have to believe he’s of good health. He’s 58-years old. Not too many guys who would be getting in the ring at 58, but it’s not a normal professional fight. The circumstances are a little different.”
Despite Tyson’s age and the question marks surrounding his current state of health, Atlas still believes his power could pose problems for Paul early – even though he casts doubts on the legitimacy of this fight.
“I tell you one thing, early on, Jake better be alert the first couple of rounds,” Atlas continued. “Because one thing that a former great fighter like Tyson can do is still punch. The power is the last thing to leave you. The power is the last thing to leave you, and if Jake gets careless early on – if it’s real.
“If there’s not an agreement in place. I don’t know, I don’t know. If it’s not pre-scripted, if this isn’t pre-scripted for Netflix, and it’s real, and Tyson comes out there firing the way that he used to fire, and he can do it for a couple of rounds, it could be interesting.”
