Aidan Perkins is backing Mike Tyson to roll back the years in his clash with Jake Paul in Texas this weekend.
Mike Tyson will be back in the boxing ring to take on Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Iron Mike had his last professional contest way back in 2005, but the 58-year-old is lacing up the gloves once more for a clash with the Problem Child.
Paul, a YouTuber-turned-boxer, is 31 years Tyson’s junior and the Ohio man will be hoping that youth is enough to swing the bout in his favour.
Selections
Mike Tyson to win by stoppage
2400/1000
Under 5.5 rounds
5/6
Iron Mike can relive former glories
Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and few fighters have carried the terror and destructiveness of a prime Iron Mike.
The American was at his peak in the late 80s but his achievements and victories during that period do not hold much relevance when it comes to Saturday’s clash with Paul.
Tyson destroyed Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and Frank Bruno in his peak years, but what can he produce now at the age 58?
It’s a question that’s difficult to answer and the solution is unlikely to come from Tyson’s performances during the glory years.
However, Iron Mike did look in pretty good shape when taking on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout in 2020, and while that was four years ago, it’s the most recent clue to what we can expect to see in Texas.
The Brooklyn brawler appeared to have retained enough speed and skill in the clash with Jones Jr to suggest that he will be capable of hurting Paul.
The Problem Child has made his name beating inactive and physically inferior MMA fighters and the 27-year-old’s victories over Nate Diaz, Ben Askren and Anderson Silva can be filed in the same place as Tyson’s 1989 victory over Bruno in the context of Saturday’s bout.
There is no substance to the Ohio man’s boxing record, and the one time Paul did step up and take on a professional boxer, he was beaten by Tommy Fury.
Tyson is 12/5 to stop Paul at the AT&T Stadium and that looks the best angle into the Texas tussle.
Early finish likely
The clash between Tyson and Paul is set to get underway around 4am UK time, but it could be an early night for the two fighters.
Iron Mike could have the skill and power to stop Paul early in the contest, but at the same time there has to be a huge concern surrounding the 58-year-old’s body lasting for eight two- minute rounds.
Paul has shown respectable power in low-key bouts, and the Ohio man will no doubt be targeting a stoppage, given the boost to his profile and potential future earnings that a knockout success over Tyson would bring.
A bet on the fight ending before the start of the sixth-round, available at 5/6, will still allow a Tyson stoppage to click and that looks like a decent cover on Saturday morning.
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