Tyson v Paul is dangerous and disrespectful - Hearn



Promoter Eddie Hearn has described November's Jake Paul v Mike Tyson headline bout in Texas as "dangerous, irresponsible and disrespectful to boxing".

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson, 58, has not fought professionally since 2005, while YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, 27, has won 10 of his 11 professional bouts.

Hearn will attend the event at AT&T Stadium to support Katie Taylor in her rematch with Amanda Serrano, but claims he will leave before the main event.

"The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished," the Matchroom boss told BBC Sport. "It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago."

Brooklyn-born Tyson became the youngest world heavyweight champion when he beat Trevor Berbick aged 20 in 1986, and was the first to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles a year later.

Though Tyson fought in an exhibition against fellow veteran Roy Jones Jr in 2020, Hearn - who was sat next to 'Iron Mike' at an event in Los Angeles in August – predicts the comeback will "only end in tears".

"I'm in awe of him - he's one of my favourite ever fighters, one of the greatest of all time - but he's a 58-year-old man," Hearn added.

"You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again."

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