Mike Tyson has shared his reasons for taking on a match with Jake Paul, indicating that the financial aspect isn’t a significant factor for him.
The long-awaited fight between Tyson and Paul is scheduled for Friday, November 15, after being postponed due to Tyson’s health scare earlier this year. The event will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas and will be available for streaming on Netflix, offering fans worldwide the chance to see who comes out on top.
Despite both fighters being confident in their abilities, Paul has expressed to LADbible Group that he thinks Tyson might be ‘underestimating’ him.
“I believe I have a mental edge here and I think he is underestimating me, truly,” he stated.
“I know he’s training hard but the way he was talking about me – ‘he doesn’t have power, he couldn’t knock out Tommy Fury and Nate Diaz’. Those are true things but I was a much different fighter then. With every year that goes by, I progress exponentially. Especially with the new team that I brought on after those fights.
“I think with the mind games, he isn’t prepared for the new version of who I am as a fighter.”
On the other hand, Tyson was succinct when questioned about his capability to still challenge Paul, responding: “It is going to be great.”
Tyson hasn’t disclosed how much he stands to earn from the fight with Paul, and there hasn’t been an official announcement regarding the purse involved.
However, Paul hinted at the substantial amount of money involved during a news conference in August, stating: “I’m here to make $40 million and knock out a legend.”
For Tyson, whose net worth is reportedly around $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, money doesn’t seem to be the driving force.
In a conversation with LADbible Group about his potential earnings from the fight, Tyson remarked: “This fight is not going to change my life financially. If I did it for free, it’s not going to change my life financially. My wife is constantly telling me, you do not need to do this fight.”
So, if it’s not about the money, why exactly is Tyson stepping into the ring?
He clarified: “This is what I want to do, this is me. I’m seeking my glory.”
As for Paul, he expects this fight to be his ‘biggest payday’ of his career thus far.
“It is definitely a healthy payday,” he commented.