In a heated exchange Thursday night, boxing icon Mike Tyson slapped social media star and boxing challenger Jake Paul during their final staredown, just after the weigh-in ahead of their highly anticipated Friday night fight. The slap added another layer of intensity to a match already stirring up interest among fans and media alike. Tyson, weighing in at 228.4 pounds, will fight out of the red corner, while Paul, who weighed in just slightly lighter at 227.2 pounds, will take the blue corner.
The moment came as Paul moved in close to Tyson during the staredown, an act that seemed to cross a line with the former heavyweight champion. Without hesitation, Tyson delivered a firm slap to Paul’s face, surprising both the crowd and the challenger himself. Paul initially didn’t react to the slap onstage, but shortly after the encounter, he expressed his frustration, telling reporters, “It’s personal now.” He added that he hadn’t even felt the slap, yet provocatively claimed, “Tyson must die,” according to USA Today.
This was an unusual outburst for Tyson, who has remained composed in the lead-up to the match, often showing a more restrained demeanor when dealing with his brash, younger opponent. Paul, known for his outspoken personality and reputation as a provocateur, has made several attempts to rile Tyson in recent weeks. During a press conference on Wednesday, Paul even referred to Tyson as “boring,” attempting to belittle the boxing legend and suggest he was past his prime. Tyson, however, had largely ignored these jabs—until this face-off, when Paul’s proximity during the stare down seemed to tip the scales.
The incident added fuel to an already fiery fight week, as both fighters prepare for their bout, set to be aired on a special Netflix live broadcast. Fans have speculated that Tyson’s uncharacteristic reaction might be a sign of how seriously he’s taking this challenge, while Paul’s response has only heightened the rivalry. With each fighter seemingly resolved to make a statement on Friday, this clash of generations promises to be more intense than many initially anticipated.
