Jake Paul has been offered the chance to box another heavyweight veteran after he faces Mike Tyson.
The YouTube star will make a remarkable appearance against 58-year-old legend Tyson on November 15, in a showdown which has been sanctioned as a professional contest.
It is a surprising clash given their age difference and the fact that Tyson hasn’t fought competitively since losing to Kevin McBride in 2008 when he was forced to retire on his stool.
And McBride, who inflicted that painful defeat, has insisted he would be open to taking on Paul next if he progresses beyond Tyson.
“If Jake Paul takes the mantle of the last man to beat Mike Tyson then I’d hope Jake Paul would give me the opportunity to fight him,” he said.
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“Then he’d have the chance to be the last man to beat Tyson and McBride. I’d jump in there with him.”
Paul is unlikely to entertain any offer from McBride, given it would not pose the commercial opportunity that fighting Tyson has provided.
The pair will duel in a huge stadium with the event broadcast globally on Netflix, in a big move which will generate huge revenue for the pair.
McBride duelled with Tyson and beat him comfortably, at a time when ‘Iron Mike’ was far from his best in 2006.
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It is likely that Tyson’s condition has since gotten worse physically given he has suffered from several medical conditions.
Paul has faced widespread criticism for his selection of Tyson, with medical experts fearful for Tyson if he is knocked out.
The former undisputed champion has already had to delay the contest, and hasn’t done much to alleviate the boxing world’s fears when releasing new training footage.
But Tyson is confident he can get the job done, and has suggested he still has the power and tools to knock out his rival despite his age.
McBride, who found Tyson’s aggression initially tough to deal with, has warned the influencer that he needs to warn the referee if the ferocious puncher looks to break the rules.
He said: “Keep you’re f****** hands up and watch that he doesn’t spit out his mouthpiece and if he does, tell the ref.
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“I’d warn Jake Paul to make sure Mike doesn’t spit his mouthpiece out because if he does you never know what’s going to happen.
“You don’t know what Mike Tyson is going to do, he’s a fearsome man.
“It takes balls to get in the ring with Tyson even in his fifties, whether you’re a YouTuber or a fighter, it takes big balls, Tyson is no joke.”
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Paul is instead set to pursue some more opportunities in boxing that help him towards his ambitious long-term goal of becoming world champion.
Some lucrative showdowns with the likes of KSI and a rematch with Tommy Fury could also present themselves in the new year.