Lennox Lewis makes feelings clear on Mike Tyson fighting Jake Paul amid backlash to boxing fight

Lennox Lewis makes feelings clear on Mike Tyson fighting Jake Paul amid backlash to boxing fight

WATCH NOW: Netflix trailer for Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 10/04/2024

- 11:54

The two men will face off in Texas on July 20

Lennox Lewis has admitted he's 'looking forward' to the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul on July 20.

And that's despite many former boxing stars criticising the pair, with Netflix set to stream the showdown to millions from around the world.


Tyson will be 58 by the time the fight takes place, with Paul 27.

Eddie Hearn and Ricky Hatton have been among those to criticise the pair for going up against each other, especially due to Tyson's age.

Boxing news Lennox Lewis Mike Tyson Jake Paul

Boxing news: Lennox Lewis is on board with the fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

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Yet Lewis, speaking to TMZ Sports, has now made it clear that he's actually on board with the bout.

“It’s going to be a great fight, I am looking forward to it," he said.

“No [I’m not upset about it not being a professional bout], because I would feel really bad for Jake Paul.

"I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Since retiring from boxing, Tyson has built his own cannabis business over in America.

The 57-year-old has, however, revealed he won't be smoking as he looks to boost his chances of beating Paul.

"I don't know, maybe it has something to do with my tripolar tendencies or something," he told Fox News.

"But I don't think I am going to smoke for this fight. I think I am going to be very irritable and nasty."

Tyson also has his own cannabis-infused sweets.

But he said he won't be eating those either, adding: "Normally I do, but for this particular fight I think I'm going to go pretty raw and naked."

Tyson doesn't care for the criticism he's received, either, with the boxing icon making it clear he doesn't care a jot.

He also feels they're 'jealous' and don't possess his superstar status.

"I'm 58 and what? I'm getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting," he said.

"Everybody, even most of the athletes, they're jealous, that's whack.

"I say in your prime you couldn't draw a million people, man.

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Boxing news Lennox Lewis

Boxing news: Lennox Lewis has admitted he'll be watching the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson

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"What are you talking, you couldn't sell out arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?

"Why you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else? Everybody wants to fight him, all the boxers want to fight him.

"But if he fought them the only people that will come are the people that like him.

"The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them. That's just keeping it real.

They're too boring for their children to watch, it's like watching grass grow."

Mike Tyson

Boxing news: Mike Tyson will be 58 by the time he fights Jake Paul in July

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Tyson has won 50 of his 58 fights over the years, with 44 of those coming via knockout.

Paul, meanwhile, has won nine of his 10 bouts - with his only defeat coming against Tommy Fury last year.

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