‘This Is The Stupidest F—king Thing’

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Boxing Match Arlington Press Conference — Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images for Netflix

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson is still very much a thing.

To most combat sports fans, that’s unfortunate news, especially after Tyson’s recent health scare that pushed the match up to November 15, 2024, after originally set for July 20, 2024. That list includes one of the best mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters of all time, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Flyweight champion and current 135-pound ONE Championship Flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson.

“He’s 58 years old,” Johnson said of Tyson on The MMA Hour. “I don’t know what his health history is, and I think the biggest thing is you have someone who is 58 years old trying to push his body to the absolute limit, moving. I don’t know if he’s sparring or anything like that. I love Jake Paul, I just think there are so many f—king boxers out there that he can fight and build, pad his record with. I understand Mike Tyson is a big name and Netflix wants to do it, but I don’t think they should revisit it.

“There are plenty of guys out there that Jake Paul could fight. KSI is one of them. He could fight ‘T-Wood’ [Tyron Woodley] again. He could fight Mike Perry, ‘Platinum.’ He could fight Jorge Masvidal. There are so many guys,” he continued. “He could fight Anthony Pettis. There are so many guys who are younger than Mike Tyson but a little bit older than him that he can beat and have a big name. But I just think him fighting Mike Tyson, the guy is 58. I don’t want to see Mike Tyson get hurt. For what? … This is the stupidest f—king thing that’s happening right now. You’re telling me there is literally nobody out there that can fight Jake Paul that’s his age, that is 8-0 as a boxer?”

Paul, 27, has won three in a row since his lone career loss (9-1), a split decision to Tommy Fury in February 2023 (watch highlights). “The Problem Child” scored back-to-back first round knockouts against Andre August (watch highlights) and Ryan Bourland (watch highlights) after a unanimous decision nod over Nate Diaz in August 2023 (watch highlights).

Despite the Tyson match still being planned, a report circulated this week that Paul will still compete on the original date. Instead, the opponent would be Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship star, Perry, who Johnson prefers between the Mikes.

“I’m more excited to see Mike Perry vs. Jake Paul in a boxing match,” Johnson said. “Netflix, f—king sign it. Mike Perry vs. Jake Paul. … That’s a way better-selling fight than Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Let Mike Tyson enjoy his retirement. Don’t bring that man back to fighting. Let him enjoy the rest of his life and let Mike Perry and Jake Paul fight.”