Mike Tyson was ‘so intimidating’ and ‘misbehaved’ as former manager reveals all ahead of Jake Paul fight
Mike Tyson’s former manager, Bob Arum, has revealed the boxing icon was ‘so intimidating’ during his time in charge of the fighter ahead of his bout with Jake Paul later this year.
Tyson is currently in the spotlight ahead of that showdown, with the veteran dividing opinion with his decision to come out of retirement.
During his early years in the sport, the 57-year-old was a force to be reckoned with.
He fought 15 times during his first year in the paid ranks and beat Trevor Berbick to win his maiden world title just months after becoming a professional.
A few of his early fights were fought under Arum’s Top Rank on ESPN.
But the 92-year-old, speaking to talkSPORT, has now revealed Tyson’s prowess made him a nightmare to manage – because he’d beat opponents so easily it wouldn’t be much of a spectacle.
“We were doing weekly fight shows on ESPN,” he said.
“We did those for 15 years, really, essentially developing fighters on those shows.
“Tyson was just starting out and we booked him for a whole series of fights.
“But the problem was he was so intimidating, that he knocked out any opponent that we got him in one round and that wasn’t good for the network that relied on selling commercial time.”
While Arum was impressed by Tyson, he also says the boxing legend ‘misbehaved’.
Tyson ultimately opted to pursue different ventures, instead of signing a long-term deal with Top Rank.
Arum continued: “I think what happened was outside of the ring Tyson misbehaved, and the only way the management could figure out how to keep him out of trouble, was to find him a fight as often as possible.
“And we had all these other fighters that we had put on the programme, and so we couldn’t have Tyson fighting on the show, every week or every other week so his management looked for opportunities elsewhere.”
Tyson won 50 fights during his prime years, with 44 of those victories coming via knockout.
And it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares when he goes up against Paul in July.
Paul has been criticised for choosing to go up against a man 30 years his senior.
Speaking last month, however, the 27-year-old defended his decision.
“In all seriousness Mike, it is such an honour and I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to step in the ring with one of the two most famous people to step in the boxing ring,” he revealed.
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“Not only will this be the biggest fight of my life, but I think this has the opportunity to change the history of boxing, and be one of the biggest events of the 21st century.
“It is the biggest moment of my career and the biggest challenge.
“Everyone has said, ‘Don’t get in the ring with Mike he is too hard of a puncher.’
“That man is a beast, but I am not taking him lightly. July 20, I am hoping to make history and knock out Mike Tyson.”
Bare-knuckle boxing champion Mike Perry, meanwhile, has threatened to hurt Paul if he knocks Tyson to the floor.
“Jake, man, definitely issuing you a challenge,” he told TMZ.
“If you get through Mike Tyson, test yourself for real and let’s have a street fight.
“F**k Jake, he’s got some [talent], but I’d like to say I’m beating him as fast as he’s beating these taxi drivers, especially bare-knuckle.
“I’ll hurt him and he’ll cry and run away and cower in the corner in the foetal position.”