George Groves believes Jake Paul could find himself in Ben Whittaker’s shoes during his fight with Mike Tyson.
Paul will touch gloves with heavyweight icon Tyson in one of the biggest events of the year on Friday night, which is a surprise professional return for 58-year-old rival.
Tyson always fought with the utmost aggression and power, tactics he used throughout his professional career which ended in 2005 after defeat to Kevin McBride.
In his exhibition with Roy Jones Jr in 2020, Tyson adopted a front-foot approach, and his training footage has shown he still possesses his power-punching traits.
As a result, former world champion Groves has insisted a bizarre ending to the fight could happen, in the same fashion as Ben Whittaker‘s recent incident where he flew over the top ropes in a draw with Liam Cameron.
“Over the top ropes, yeah, possibly, who knows honestly? [Anything could happen],” he told Best Offshore Sportsbooks.
“If you look back at Tyson’s fights, it was always just, quick start, pedal to the metal, boom. He was never in it for a points win, was he?
“So why would he change now? He must know that he’s dangerous early and probably isn’t backing himself down the stretch.
“Two minute rounds will suit him because he’s getting a minute’s rest quicker than usual.
“14oz gloves, you can get some spiteful 14s. We’ll see which ones they show up with.
“I think it’s got to be a tough man [to train Tyson] and guys from the mixed martial arts backgrounds usually have very clever, old-school, unconventional methods, and they’re usually tough guys so I can imagine that’s what Tyson’s leant into.
“He wants to be quick, he wants to be powerful, but he wants to be tough too, so maybe that’s what we’ll see.”
Rising British star Whittaker was expected to beat Cameron, but an incident saw the pair crash over the top ropes after a scrappy clinch.
‘The Surgeon’ was left injured with a sprained ankle and was forced to withdraw from the fight, which was subsequently scored a draw.
Similarly Paul will surprisingly be expected to beat Tyson, given the former undisputed champion is now 58 years old and is far from his physical prime.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer is 27-years-old and in his best physical condition, but has only had 11 professional fights against far lesser opposition.
Tyson could carry advantages nonetheless given the pair will meet over eight two-minute rounds, a shorter format which could see him put his foot to the pedal.
And despite 14oz gloves being in use, Hall of Fame boxing referee Richard Steele doesn’t believe this will counter that shorter format.
“That’s still a small glove thinking about the power of Mike Tyson,” he told USA Today.
“I don’t see the guy going that distance with Tyson. Because Tyson, he’s so strong and he’s an ex-champion.
“He knows what he’s doing and for two minutes, he can go all out.
“He’s still dangerous. He has so much power.
“I just hope he don’t end up getting hurt or hurt the other guy.”
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