Mike Tyson leaves sparring partner with black eye before Jake Paul fight
Mike Tyson is scheduled to make a sensational return to the ring this week and the 58-year-old hasn't fought a professional bout since losing to Kevin McBride in 2005
Mike Tyson 's sparring partner, Mike Russell, revealed he was left with a black eye following a gruelling session ahead of the 58-year-old's showdown with Jake Paul.
The former undisputed heavyweight world champion enlisted the help of Russell as well as Jett Blackwell for his fight with 'The Problem Child'. According to The Sun, the training partners had to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements 'to ensure Tyson's preparation are kept behind closed doors.' Coincidentally, it's the same group of partners who helped prepare 'Iron Mike' for his exhibition showdown with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr four years ago.
Russell, 32, is 6-1 as a boxer and has fought as a heavyweight and cruiserweight. He recently prepared former UFC star Nate Diaz for his showdown with Paul last year. 'The Problem Child' scored a knockdown against the MMA icon en route to a decision victory last year in Texas.
In an interview with ESNEWS earlier this year, Russell recalled what it's like to spar Tyson. "It's one hell of an experience. I'll tell you what, his power has not gone away at all." When asked how hard Tyson hits, the American revealed: "They're f****** heavy. One time... usually you have to get hit in a good spot for your vision to go, a chin or temple.
"One time he hit me in the eye, my vision went and I went 'how the f*** did he hit me in the eye and my vision goes'."
Ahead of the upcoming clash between Tyson and Paul, Russell revealed Tyson left him with a black eye in sparring as well as issuing a severe warning to 'The Problem Child'. “Mike hits harder than anyone I’ve ever been in the ring with," he said on a Netflix documentary.
"I’ve only had two black eyes in my whole career, one other one and this one right here. Jake is walking into a problem. He says he’s the problem child but it’s going to be a problem for him on November 15.”
With just a few days to go until the heavyweight showdown, Tyson had a message for his opponent. “I don’t think he has any idea what’s coming at him," he said on a Netflix documentary. "He thinks I’m a wolf decrepit man coming at him; somebody with a bunch of arthritis built up in his bones coming to attack him. He’s going to have a big surprise . I’m just ready to get in there. I’m going to catch him with all this running bulls***. You can’t win by running, you’ve got to fight sometime.“
The heavyweight showdown between the two boxing stars will take place on Friday, November 15, with the fight taking place in front of up to 80,000 fans at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Friday's clash will see the pair go glove-to-glove in a professional showdown in an eight two-minute round format - as opposed to the more standard three-minute rounds. The sanctioned fight has already been approved by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Both boxers will wear 14-ounce gloves, heavier than the standard gloves.
With just a few days to go until the fight, there are a few fans who believe the 58-year-old isn't taking the fight seriously. During a recent chat with Jimmy Kimmel, 'Iron Mike' claimed he was training six hours a day. "I am training extremely hard, I do six hours a day. I start at 11am and might leave the gym at 5pm," he said. Kimmel looked stunned and replied: "Oh no. 11am? So that's six hours straight, or is there a lunch break?" The former heavyweight champion admitted there was a small break as a shocked Kimmel gasped: "Oh no."
Related
Share this page
Guest Posts by Easy Branches
