Conor McGregor and Dana White are not a fan of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson, but agree on who they are backing.
Heavyweight legend Tyson will return aged 58 to take on YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in a seismic professional boxing match this Friday night in Dallas, Texas.
The event has attracted widespread criticism given the heavyweight legend suffers from a series of medical conditions, and is exposing himself to potential serious damage by making a full comeback.
UFC superstar McGregor and the promotion’s president White have unanimously slammed the showdown, with their opinions both very clear.
McGregor most recently criticised the fight despite previously showing an understanding of it, while backing Tyson to get the job done on Paul.
He said in a furious live rant: “Don’t give a b******s. They’re wearing 14-oz gloves.
“It’s two-minute rounds, is it? It’s two-minute rounds? Who gives a b******s.
“I hope he [Tyson] rattles that little dope [Paul]. No one gives a f*”k about him.
“How is that even in the f***ing Dallas Stadium? What’s going on?”
McGregor has regularly been outspoken about Paul’s boxing career, with the YouTuber-turned-boxer having fought a whole host of former UFC stars including the Irishman’s previous conqueror Nate Diaz.
It is no surprise that he is not fond of the showdown, given his reluctance to accept any call-out from Paul over a potential clash.
White himself, who has overseen the astonishing career of McGregor in the UFC, has also heavily criticised Paul’s time in boxing.
The UFC kingpin is a long-term friend of Tyson, and has been critical of Paul’s role in convincing him to return aged 58.
He agreed with McGregor and said: “If I brought up f*****g Jake Paul, pretty much everybody in the room and the other room wants to see Jake Paul get knocked out.
“When this fight happens, Tyson will be 58 f*****g years old.
“Under any circumstances, a f*****g almost 60 year old man shouldn’t be fighting a 27 year old f*****g guy.
“Under any circumstances. Even if it’s Mike Tyson, so it’s f*****g ridiculous.
“When he [Paul] actually fought someone who was a boxer, who had the same type of record he has, who was his age, and who was his size, he f***ing lost.
“So they’re never going to go that f**king route again. I love Mike Tyson, but he’s almost f**king 60 years old.”
Paul has made himself an enemy of White having regularly criticised UFC fighter pay and the president’s treatment of fighters.
White is of course backing Tyson, but even spoke about his intentions of convincing ‘Iron Mike’ away form a return just after it was announced in March.
It will be a fully sanctioned professional bout, Tyson’s first since retirement in 2005, but he has returned before in an exhibition clash with Roy Jones Jr in 2020.
Despite concerns over his return, Tyson is confident it is worth the risk, given he stands to pocket an estimated $20 million purse.
The event will be broadcast to millions on streaming service Netflix, and could see 80,000 fans flock in to see the event live at the At&T Stadium in Texas.
Save 33% on DAZN ahead of Black Friday
*If you click on a link in this story we will earn affiliate revenue.
There are more than 150 boxing and MMA fights a year on DAZN, and you can get access for less if you sign up now:
- Head to the DAZN website now to take advantage of a third off all plans.
- One option is the annual pay monthly plan, which is reduced to £9.99 from £14.99 in the DAZN Black Friday sale.
- Or you could save more money if you pay for a year upfront, with an annual subscription reduced to £89.99 – the equivalent of £7.50 / month.
- Complete your purchase before 29 November to take advantage of the sale.
DAZN currently has the exclusive rights to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom and will have Queensberry’s star-studded stable from April 2025, which includes heavyweight champions Daniel Dubois, Zhilei Zhang, Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma.
