Denzel Bentley is uncertain if Mike Tyson’s body will hold up to the rigours of his upcoming boxing fight with Jake Paul.
Tyson is set to return to the ring at the age of 58 in a full professional encounter with Paul next Friday, with his rival 31 years younger and in his physical prime.
Tyson looks in tremendous shape for the fight despite health concerns[/caption]
The heavyweight veteran has fought just once since retiring in 2005, in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, but now suffers with a raft of health conditions including sciatica.
‘Iron Mike’ was already forced to withdraw from the originally scheduled contest on a July date, after suffering a ‘flare up’ of a stomach ulcer.
The fight is set to go ahead nonetheless, which was discussed by former world middleweight title challenger Bentley on the latest episode of talkBOXING.
When asked about the fight by host Simon Jordan, he replied: “It’s not the Mike Tyson that we know.
“We saw him make a comeback against Roy Jones Jr and he couldn’t hurt him, so what makes you think he will hurt Jake Paul?
“All he will do is damage his record and legacy as one of our heros, I won’t be watching it to be honest.”
Fellow host Spencer Oliver added that it could be damaging for the sport if Paul beat legendary Tyson, to which Bentley added: “It will be.
“And you have a 50+ year old, that smokes weed a lot, he is going to try but it won’t be enough.
“He hasn’t been hit in the face properly for however many years, he may not even be sparring properly.
“It’s two minute rounds, which means the pace will be really fast. Can his heart hold up to that?
Bentley isn’t so sure about Tyson’s condition[/caption]
“Is he doing hard runs, is he doing cardio and is he doing all these things that athletes do?
“All I’m saying is if I was 60 I wouldn’t want to train this hard. I think Jake Paul will win.”
Tyson himself believes he will be the victor despite his age, and has been releasing short clips of training footage.
The former undisputed champion has even in fact been sparring for the clash.
He even attempted to intimidate Paul with a video of him being released sending a sparring partner crashing through the ropes during an intense session.
But unfortunately that doesn’t quite paint the full picture for ‘Iron Mike’, who has actually admitted he has been struggling to meet the physical demands of training camp.
Although he believes it will be him who pushes the pace, with Paul having a lower level of experience as a heavyweight.
“I see him running around and I have to try and catch him and slaughter him,” he told talkSPORT.
“He’s a good little fighter but he’s only had ten fights which is considered as an amateur in our field.
“You have to become delusional to believe something you are not. But he is in trouble I believe.”
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