Mike Tyson Slaps Jake Paul in Heated Weigh-In Face-Off
The hype surrounding the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight reached a fever pitch at Thursday's weigh-in, with tensions boiling over as Tyson slapped Paul during their final face-off. The incident unfolded at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, where the 58-year-old boxing legend will take on the YouTuber-turned-fighter in a highly publicised heavyweight bout streamed on Netflix.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Paul decided to up the ante. After both men weighed in — Tyson at 228.4 pounds and Paul just a pound lighter — Paul crawled theatrically across the stage to get in Tyson’s face. That’s when Tyson, who had kept his cool throughout the fight's promotional events, slapped Paul across the face. Security quickly intervened, pulling the two apart before it could escalate further.
Following the slap, Tyson tersely declared, “The talking’s over,” before walking off. The usually laid-back Tyson had been quiet all week, refusing to engage in Paul’s antics. But Thursday’s unexpected outburst showed that even the veteran champ has his limits. Meanwhile, Paul, ever the showman, laughed off the incident, calling Tyson "an angry little elf" and vowing to knock him out on fight night.
Paul’s confidence seemed unshaken as he boasted to broadcaster Ariel Helwani, “I didn’t even feel it. He hits like a b***h!” The 27-year-old claimed the altercation had made things personal, saying, “He must die.” Despite the heated words, Paul appeared to relish the chaos, sitting down afterward and meditating to stay composed.
The fight is generating buzz not just because of the star power but also for its unique setup. The event marks Netflix’s first venture into live boxing, with the bout scheduled for eight, two minute rounds. To mitigate the intensity, they’ll use 14oz gloves instead of the standard 10oz.
In contrast to the Tyson-Paul theatrics, the weigh-in also featured a calmer showdown between female boxing icons Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. The two were all smiles, emphasising mutual respect as they prepared for their much-anticipated rematch. The undercard, which is being hailed as a landmark event for women’s boxing, was a stark contrast to the chaotic energy surrounding the main event.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who is usually critical of these spectacle fights, attended the weigh-in to support Taylor. He had previously criticised the Tyson-Paul matchup but couldn’t resist being present for the showdown between Taylor and Serrano. “This is our time,” Serrano said, expressing her excitement for what the fight represents for women's sports.
With a packed house and even Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders performing, the weigh-in was more of a spectacle than a traditional boxing event. Fans lined up hours in advance, with some even taking swings at a punch machine featuring Paul's face once inside. Now, with only hours to go until the main event, all eyes are on whether Paul can back up his bravado or if Tyson, despite his age, can prove he’s still got some of that old power left.
