The highly anticipated fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul has been surrounded by controversy, with the most recent incident occurring during their weigh-in last night.
During their face-off, tensions flared when Mike Tyson suddenly slapped Jake Paul across the face.
This unexpected action caught the attention of fans, sparking theories about the motive behind Tyson’s reaction.
There has been a series of heated exchanges between the two leading up to the fight, indicating a lack of mutual affection. However, the slap has left fans puzzled over what triggered Tyson’s anger.
At the weigh-in, Paul, 27, approached Tyson, who responded with a slap. Paul stumbled backward from the forceful blow, while security intervened to separate the two.
In a provoking gesture, Paul then blew kisses at the 58-year-old Tyson as he was escorted away.
Commenting on the incident, Paul said: “I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf.”
Speculation arose online as fans examined footage showing Paul stepping on Tyson’s foot just before the slap occurred.
A Twitter user commented: “Seems like the reason Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul is because he stepped on his foot.”
Another added: “He bumped Tyson’s bunions. must be painful.”
One fan noted: “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.”
Some pointed to Paul’s approach as disrespectful, with one person observing: “I dunno if it added to it, but he was moving up like a gorilla as well.”
Another remarked: “No one is commenting about the ape walk by Paul?”
One fan 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.”
As the fight approaches, questions have been raised about Tyson’s return to the ring after nearly two decades, particularly against an inexperienced opponent like Paul.
Despite the financial incentives, Tyson has stated that money wasn’t a key factor in his decision.
When interviewed by LADbible Group about potential earnings 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.”
Explaining his motivation, Tyson added: “This is what I want to do, this is me. I’m seeking my glory.”
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The Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson match will be broadcast live on Netflix on Friday, November 15. The bout is set to start at 8 pm ET, 7 pm CT, 5 pm PT, and 1 am GMT.
If you don’t have Netflix, Verizon customers can enjoy a free year of Netflix Premium by bundling it with another subscription through Verizon’s +play platform. Available partner services include Paramount+, NBA League Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.