Many have questioned the legitimacy of the upcoming boxing match between 27-year-old Jake Paul and 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Due to Tyson’s age, many believed it would be more of an exhibition, but the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has sanctioned it as an official bout.
That hasn’t stopped critics taking aim at Paul on social media for fighting boxing hall of famer Mike Tyson, who rose to prominence in the late 1980s. British boxer Tony Bellew has now taken this one step further in a stunt sponsored by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power.
He’s a great grandfather and he’s ready for you”
Bellew appeared at the pre-fight press conference on Tuesday with an old man wearing Paddy Power-sponsored boxing attire. The Scouser mockingly explained through the microphone that Paul could fight the elderly fighter next if he defeats Tyson on Friday night. “He’s a great grandfather and he’s ready for you,” Bellew said. He was then escorted out of the room by security.
Paul will fight Tyson at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Friday at 8pm ET. Sportsbooks currently have Paul as the -190 favorite, but Tyson’s odds have shortened since the bout was announced in March this year. He is now at odds of +188 to take victory.
In a chilling statement from last week, Tyson explained why he was certain of victory come Friday night. “He’s a manufactured killer,” he said of Paul in a pre-fight documentary. “Television and papers made him a killer. He’s manufactured. I’m a natural born killer. That’s the difference.”
Paddy Power is no stranger to wild publicity stunts. In 2019, the sportsbook fooled fans of Huddersfield Town soccer club in England by releasing a fake kit with a large sash logo, only to announced that it would not be featuring its logo on the jersey at all. In another campaign, the sportsbook raised issue with the choice of stadiums for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 soccer competition with a giant inflatable arrow.