Deontay Wilder is deeply concerned about Mike Tyson’s comeback.
The heavyweight boxing legend is set to end his 19-year retirement to face Jake Paul, who is three decades younger than him, at AT&T Stadium in Texas on July 20 where seats are going for $2m.
3
Tyson’s return to the ring was originally billed as an exhibition, but it was recently confirmed that his fight with Paul will be an officially sanctioned professional bout.
Since the announcement, boxing fans have been expressing their concern for the 57-year-old and now Wilder has joined them as he thinks ‘Iron Mike’ could get badly hurt.
The former WBC heavyweight champion is worried that Tyson could be hospitalised with a serious injury following his fight with the 27-year-old YouTuber.
“I think it's bad the commission has licensed Mike Tyson because he hasn't been active in 20 years," Wilder told Sportsbook Review.
READ MORE TYSON VS PAUL
"They should not just license him because of who he is, that's how people get hurt, god forbid he gets hurt.
“People can get hit in the wrong place and at the wrong time, there's lots of examples where guys have been hit into a coma. It's easy to do. He's too old for this.
“At the end of the day, no one gives a f*** about Mike. We can talk about the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, they don't give a f***. I don't think anyone cares about Mike because if they did, they wouldn't sanction the fight.
“They may say they've done tests and all that, ok, but as long as you're willing to suffer the consequences if something bad goes wrong.”
3
3
Beyond the potential health risks, Wilder is against the fight as he thinks losing against someone like Paul will seriously damage Tyson’s legacy in the sport of boxing.
He added: “His power may not have left completely but you still need to set it up, your stamina needs to be a certain way, or it's going to look like a clown show.
Mike Tyson's 'fault' spotted by fans in his latest training video ahead of his upcoming fight with Jake Paul
“I don't want to see it to be honest. I don't want to see one of my legends fight a YouTuber.
"If he goes in there and he knocks Mike out, that's going to tarnish the reputation of Mike. I don't want the last thing I remember of him is him getting knocked out by a YouTuber.
“The last thing you do, that's what people remember you by.”