Lennox Lewis believes Mike Tyson is still capable of winning fights
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is relieved to hear that his former foe, Mike Tyson, is not set to face internet star Jake Paul in a professional bout.
Tyson revealed earlier last week that his boxing match against the YouTuber – which will be broadcast by Netflix on July 20 – is going to be an exhibition.
Regardless, the former heavyweight king believes that, despite his last outing as a professional being in 2005, he has enough left in the tank to defeat Paul – and Lewis agrees.
Speaking with TMZ, Lewis said: “Absolutely, it’s going to be a great fight. I’m looking forward to it.
“I would feel really bad for Jake Paul [if it was a professional contest]. I don’t want him to get hurt.”
Tyson will be 58 years old by the time his showdown with Paul comes around, but he takes ample confidence from his last performance, in another exhibition match, against Roy Jones Jr.
While the bout ended in a draw, many felt that Tyson got the better of Jones Jr when they met in the ring in 2020.
Now, the youngest person to win a world heavyweight title takes on a vastly different opponent at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium, Texas – which has a seating capacity of 80,000.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, therefore, are responsible for setting out the rules, which specify that both fighters will wear 16oz gloves in a clash that is scheduled for fewer, shorter rounds than the professional duration.
Since losing to Tommy Fury via a split decision out in Saudi Arabia last year, Paul has extended his professional wins to nine.
After defeating former UFC champion Nate Diaz over ten rounds, he scored two consecutive first-round knockouts over limited opposition.
His most recent win took place in Puerto Rico, and he now returns to the US for a more lucrative opportunity.