Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson could see calls to ban boxing altogether

Jake Paul is set to face Mike Tyson in a boxing match later this year, but there are growing concerns about the health of the former heavyweight champion of the world

Jake Paul has been cautioned about the potential repercussions facing boxing if he inflicts harm on Mike Tyson during their upcoming fight.

The conflict, scheduled for 15 November in Arlington, Texas, follows a postponement due to a medical issue that Tyson faced. Concerns linger regarding the 58 year old former heavyweight champion's health, with Tyson disclosing difficulties with walking post-training.

Ahead of his bout with Paul, Tyson must also undergo a medical evaluation.

However, Paulie Malignaggi, a retired boxer, has issued a stark warning to Paul, suggesting that devastating consequences on Tyson could spark calls for the entire sport's prohibition. He remarked: "Head blows from young, strong guys at Mike's age aren't good. When you're younger, you can handle hits better."

"When you're older, your body isn't made for that kind of damage anymore. Things could go badly wrong. If something like that happened, people would be calling for the sport to be banned. Personally, I don't think his fight with Jake Paul should happen.", reports the Mirror.

"He'll be 58 years old by then. Fifty-eight is still 58. We live in a generation that doesn't understand ageing is a real thing. You can show highlights of Mike from the '80s, but the guy stepping into the ring won't be that same Mike Tyson."

Malignaggi has issued a stark warning about the potential dangers of Jake Paul facing Mike Tyson due to the latter's age. In a conversation with Canada Casino, he expressed his serious concerns: "Jake Paul might not be world-class, but he's certainly not a novice. He's been boxing for about five years."

"After four years of boxing, I won the US National Championships, so Jake's far from a beginner. He's strong and young. Hitting someone Tyson's age has serious risks. Tyson wasn't taking punches well at 36, let alone now."

"If you hit a guy who's that old, it affects them. Imagine what getting hit by a strong guy like Jake would do to him. I wouldn't want to find out."

The upcoming fight has raised concerns among others as well, including UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, who fears the impact on boxing's legacy if Paul were to win.

Shamrock shared his thoughts, saying, "Here's what I say because like I said, I think what Jake Paul and them guys are doing is brilliant, I really do," and "I think them never fighting a contender but making more money than any world championship fight is brilliant. I mean it's brilliant but this one's not good. Because Jake Paul can't win."

"[If Paul] wins, there's a huge bad taste in the world of boxing. It's a disappointment to an organisation that has loved Mike Tyson. It is like the death of somebody and it should be victorious for Jake Paul and I think on that small group of people that are following, yes, but, in that whole atmosphere of boxing, it's gonna feel like somebody died."