Jake Paul’s team has hit back at Eddie Hearn after he criticised his fight with Mike Tyson.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul will face legendary heavyweight boxer Tyson on November 15, in which a controversy has arisen due to the huge age difference between the two.
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And promoter Hearn has been the most critical of the fight.
But Paul’s business partner and Most Valuable Promotions co-founder Nakisa Bidarian immediately hit back at Hearn.
Bidarian said: “I keep getting sent these articles about Eddie Hearn taking on Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
“If you’re involved in this you have no sympathy for the game, he wouldn’t be involved in it in a million years. Eddie, you’re involved. Massively involved.
“Katie Taylor, your most famous fighter, is the co-main event and as you know, this is her biggest payday.
“So, thank you Netflix, thank you MVP and most of all, thank you Jake Paul for bringing this to you.
“It’s funny. I remember when Francis Ngannou was fighting Tyson Fury, you were saying, ‘This is a circus. This is a clown show. This shouldn’t happen.’
“But as soon as you get the opportunity to be involved in the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou fight, you’re so quick to sign that contract and talk about, ‘Oh, this is a real fight. Oh, this is a big deal.'”
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Hearn responded online: “There’s a bit of a difference. Francis was an active UFC fighter who basically (IMO) beat Tyson Fury.
“That win gave him all the credibility he needed. Mike is 50 and was shot as a fighter 20 years ago.”
Paul has a 10-1 record and is only tarnished by a 2023-point loss to Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, 25.
Tyson retired in 2005 after two disappointing losses and years of troubles outside the ring.
But by 2020, he had reformed and returned for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. — which was nothing more than a glorified contest.
We’re told that won’t be the case this time, as he’s preparing to take on Paul in a professionally sanctioned bout.
I understand that this weird show could do some good numbers. But, I think if you truly care about the sport and the history of the sport, and specifically the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time, this is not something you would ever consider.
Eddie Hearn talks Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson
Both will be required to undergo drug testing, while Tyson will be required to undergo additional brain and heart testing due to his age.
But there was widespread outrage when Tyson was forced to pull out of the initial July 20 date because of a stomach ulcer.
But organisers – which also included streaming platform Netflix – quickly rescheduled the bout.
Hearn told SunSport: “I don’t think there’s any boxer who would actually want to see that fight.
I think this weird show could do good business.
“But, I think if you really care about the sport and the history of the sport and especially the legacy of one of the greatest fighters of all time, it’s not something you would ever consider.
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“But, I understand their strategy and business and if it succeeds in numbers, they don’t really care what it looks like in terms of empathy.
“I don’t think it’s something you’d see a real boxer get involved in.”
