Money isn’t Mike Tyson’s primary motivation for taking the Jake Paul fight.
The real reason is much deeper. “The sky is the limit,” Tyson told talkSPORT on Wednesday.
“That is mostly why I do these things because I want to be the biggest fighter in the history of fighting.
“That is my goal in life, that is what drives me. I want to be the biggest fighter in the history of life.
“That drives me more than money, to be the biggest fighter since the beginning of life, that lasts an eternity.”
Tyson hung up his gloves in 2005 after retiring on his stool against Kevin McBride.
In a candid post-fight interview, Tyson admitted he had ‘lost his fighting guts’.
But 19 years later, on November 15, he will square off against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul in what is anticipated to be one of the most-watched sporting events of the 21st century.
Concerns have been raised about Tyson’s health as the 58-year-old gears up to return to the ring against a man 31 years his junior.
Their initial July 20 date had to be postponed after Tyson suffered an ulcer flare up which left him medically unfit to compete this summer.
The news stoked fears further, however, ‘Iron Mike’ insists he has made a full recovery and is now fully focused on ‘slaughtering’ Paul.
“Everything has been sorted out, I had an ulcer problem. I was eating bad food,” he added.
“Whoever is in that ring has a problem with me.
“If my mother stepped into the ring she has a problem with me. Don’t go in that ring if you don’t want that problem.”
Asked how he sees the fight playing out, Tyson replied: “I see him running around and I have to try and catch him and slaughter him.
“He’s a good little fighter but he’s only had ten fights which is considered as an amateur in our field.”
Paul is 11 fights deep in his professional career (10-1), which pales in comparison to Tyson’s illustrious 58 fight (50-6-0-2) run in the paid ranks that saw him become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
However, Father Time is undefeated and a 27-year-old will always have the physical edge even if he concedes experience.
