UFC icon Randy Couture has warned Jake Paul that he could be in serious trouble against Mike Tyson despite their significant age gap.
The world of boxing was shocked last month when an announcement was made for YouTuber Paul to step in the ring with Tyson this summer.
The fight on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium will be Tyson's first fight since his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr four years ago.
By the time the former undisputed heavyweight world champion steps into the ring, he'll be 58 years of age - more than 30 years older than Paul.
Mike Tyson will be 58 years old when he fights Jake Paul
GETTY
The age gap has led to concerns being raised about Tyson's wellbeing going into the fight.
But UFC Hall of Famer Couture believes it's Paul who should be concerned going up against the boxing icon.
“Jake Paul’s certainly got his hands full with Mike Tyson,” he told talkSPORT.
“Even at 57, Mike is as explosive as he ever was and Mike’s firing on all cylinders now.
"I think he’s going to be very tough to deal with for Jake, but it’s going to be interesting.”
Couture dominated the UFC heavyweight division in the prime of his career and competed in a record 16 title fights.
He moved into acting after retiring and has worked as a pundit for the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Couture added that he would personally have to think twice about stepping into the ring with somebody more than half his age.
Randy Couture feels Jake Paul could be in trouble
GETTY
But he feels it's a bit more personal for Tyson in wanting to stump out the noise around crossover fights.
“I think there’s a little more at stake here for Mike," he added.
"I think Mike sees some of these crossover fights and what’s going on, and how that’s affecting boxing and people’s perception of boxing.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Jake Paul has caused a stir in the world of boxing
GETTY
"If you take him at his word, he wants to kind of straighten some of that rhetoric out.
“He’s saying ‘Hey this isn’t as easy as Jake Paul is making it look’ – he’s fighting for boxing in many ways, against a YouTuber and social media guy who has made his way up.
“It’s going to be interesting to see how that fight unfolds.
“Watching the training footage of Mike Tyson, you have flashbacks to him in his prime and that’s pretty scary, pretty remarkable.”
