Featured Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images/Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Topics: Boxing, Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Sport
Niamh Spence
Topics: Boxing, Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Sport
Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's big fight has not been without controversy, with the most recent being when the two boxers faced each other at last night's weigh-in.
As the two boxers squared up to one another, it appeared tempers were frayed as Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul across the cheek.
The shock move caught the attention of fans, with some now believing they've worked out why the older boxer slapped his younger rival.
The pair have exchanged several slanging matches against one another in the run up to tonight, so there is clearly no love lost between them but still the slap has seen fans questioning what could have made Tyson so angry.
Facing off to each other, Paul, 27, crawled up to his opponent and was quickly greeted with a slap. Paul staggered backyards after the brutal blow as Tyson was pushed back from Paul by security.
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Taunting the 58-year-old, Paul then blew kisses as he was ushered away.
Speaking after the slap, the YouTuber said: "I didn't even feel it. He's angry. He's an angry little elf."
However, online fans think they've worked out why Tyson reacted, as a close up video of the pair's meet shows Paul stepping on Tyson's toes with his trainers immediately before the slap takes place.
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A fan on Twitter wrote: "Seems like the reason Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul is because he stepped on his foot."
As another fan replied: "He bumped Tyson's bunions. must be painful."
"Mike has notoriously bad feet. I’m not saying this isn’t staged, but everyone who follows Tyson knows he’s got lots of foot problems," said a third.
Others have pointed out the crawl from Paul as being offensive as one person responded: "I dunno if it added to it, but he was moving up like a gorilla aswell."
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Another shared: "No one is commenting about the ape walk by Paul?"
One fan also reasoned: "It looks like the reason Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul was over something as simple as stepping on his foot. While it might sound like a minor thing, in the heat of the moment, especially with the tension between the two, it could’ve been enough to spark a reaction.
"Tyson’s known for his fiery temper, and Jake Paul, with his brash persona, is never far from controversy. It's a reminder that in the world of combat sports, things can escalate quickly—even over small stuff."
Ahead of this evening, many have questioned why Tyson is returning to the ring after almost 20 years of retirement, especially to face an amateur fighter like Paul.
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While he's set for a big payday, he insisted that money wasn't a contributing factor to his decision.
When asked by LADbible Group how much he believed he could make from the fight, Tyson said: "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."
He went on to say of his reasoning for accepting the high profile fight: "This is what I want to do, this is me. I’m seeking my glory."
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Viewers can tune in live to watch the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson match on Netflix on Friday November 15. Their bout is scheduled to begin at 8 pm ET, 7 pm CT, 5 pm PT, and 1 am GMT.
Don't have Netflix? Don't panic: Verizon customers can get a free year of Netflix Premium when they bundle it with another subscription through Verizon's +play platform. Partnering services include Paramount+, NBA League Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.