Mike Tyson and Jake Paul showdown ‘has been upgraded’ as boxing legend fires warning

Roy Jones Jr has claimed he’s ‘heard’ that Mike Tyson and Jake Paul’s upcoming showdown has been ‘upgraded’ to a professional fight.

It was announced earlier this month that the two Americans will lock horns on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.

On Saturday, reports suggested their showdown would be an exhibition – instead of a professional fight – with a list of rules apparently in place.

Paul’s manager has since shut down those claims, however, branding them ‘fake news’.

Tyson fought Jones Jr back in 2020, with the 57-year-old returning to the ring after officially retiring in 2005.

And the 55-year-old, speaking on The Lunch Club, has claimed the fight between Tyson and Paul has been ‘upgraded’ – while warning Paul he’s in for a tough challenge.

“The Jake Paul Mike Tyson fight is not an exhibition, I’ve heard it’s been upgraded to a fight,” he said.

“If it’s a fight, it’s very intriguing how it may turn out because Jake Paul has gotten a lot better as a boxer over the days but Mike Tyson even at 58 or however old he is, is still Mike Tyson.

“When I boxed him, he still punched like Mike Tyson.

“If he hits anybody square on the chin it’s going to be problematic, I don’t care who it is.

“I like Jake Paul, he’s a good guy and he’s doing good with his boxing stuff.

“I think it’s a good promotional situation for him and Mike, they should go really good numbers especially having upgraded to a real fight.

“If Mike comes out and does what Mike normally does, then it’s going to be a tough situation for Jake.

“If Jake can stay away from him for four or five rounds, then Jake has a chance but he’s going to have to do a lot of manoeuvring to stay away from him.”

Tyson has won 50 of his 58 career fights over the years.

A huge 44 of his victories have come via knockout.

Paul is still relatively new to the sport, with the 27-year-old taking part in 10 showdowns so far.

He has won nine of them, with his defeat to Tommy Fury last year the only blot on his record.

Many have criticised the pair for agreeing to fight, with Ricky Hatton previously saying boxing legends will be ‘turning in their graves’.

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But Paul insists the fight is a big challenge for him, despite facing a man 30 years his senior.

“I am biting off a lot,” he said on his podcast.

“This is definitely the toughest, most savage, lethal opponent regardless of age, because the power is the last thing to go.

“But the reaction and reception of it is insane.

“I almost can’t even believe it, so very surreal and very, very grateful for all of that.”

Former boxing star Andre Ward, meanwhile, has defended Tyson for taking the fight with Paul.

“I don’t know, man. It’s a spectacle, I’m going to watch it,” he told Fight Hub TV.

“I don’t know. I see people on both sides like ‘Mike shouldn’t be in there.’ Maybe not.

“But if there’s a 56, 58-year-old that I’m not too concerned about, it’s probably Mike Tyson.

“But it is risky…well, Mike’s life is risky, it’s been risky since he been a kid until now. Boxing is risky.”