Mike Tyson already looks in fighting shape three months before his exhibition with Jake Paul.
Tyson, who reigned as undisputed heavyweight champion in the late 1980s, is set to climb back into the ring at 58 for a controversial exhibition bout against Paul, 27, on July 20 in Texas.
Given his age and the impressive one-punch knockout power his younger opponent has displayed in recent years, many have accused the promoters behind the contest for putting ‘Iron’ Mike’s health at risk.
Though while he may be nearing his 58th birthday, Tyson has still got himself in tremendous condition more than three months out from his showdown with the YouTuber-turned-boxer.
At a meet-and-greet event for Fiterman Sports Group in Chantilly, Virginia over the weekend, the fight icon went shirtless to show off the ripped physique he has already built ahead of his return to the ring.
Mike Tyson already looks in fighting shape three months before his exhibition with Jake Paul
Tyson went shirtless at a meet-and-greet in Virginia to show off his ripped physique
While posing for photos and signing autographs a chiseled Tyson even boasted a six pack – and there was a motive behind his decision to go shirtless.
‘I don’t need a shirt,’ he said. ‘I have to show them what they are betting on!’
He then added: ‘I want to show off how good I look, how in shape I am!’
As well as posing alongside fans, Tyson also took a picture with fellow boxing legend Roberto Duran, who was also in Chantilly for the event.
Duran, 72 and one of the greatest fighters to ever grace the sport, was recently given a pacemaker after doctors noticed he had an ‘obstructed artery’ in his heart.
The former four-weight world champion wrote alongside a photo of himself and Tyson on Instagram: ‘Here I am sharing with my friend that I love very much @miketyson Next time I’ll go shirtless.’
Tyson last competed in an exhibition back in 2020, when he faced another legend of the sport in Roy Jones Jnr.
The ex-heavyweight king also posed alongside fellow fight icon Roberto Duran at the event
Tyson and Paul shocked the boxing world last month with news they will fight in Texas in July
His clash with Paul will be contested over two-minute rounds as opposed to the usual three minutes in professional boxing, while both men will be wearing 16-ounce gloves instead of the traditional 10-ounce.
‘I’m 58, and what? I’m getting billions of views from just talking about fighting,’ Tyson told Reuters.
‘Everybody, even most of the athletes, they’re jealous… You couldn’t sell out an arena. Who at 58 can sell out an 80,000-seat arena? Why do you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else?
‘All the boxers want to fight him. But if he fought them, the only people that will come are the people that like him. Their parents might not even come watch them.’
