Mike Tyson can still move 'in the blink of an eye' ahead of Jake Paul fight, according to protege Francis Ngannou
24/08/2024 01:49
Francis Ngannou believes that Mike Tyson still has something in the tank as he prepares to make his return to the ring.
The former UFC heavyweight champion had boxing icon Tyson in his corner for his fight with Tyson Fury back in October, and trained with his idol regularly in Las Vegas. Over their few weeks together, the pair worked hard towards a crossover bout which the MMA star lost in a razor-close decision.
Now, Tyson is working on his own fighting comeback, facing Jake Paul in a controversial November 15 bout at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas. And Ngannou has noted where his surprising strengths may be, despite turning 58 last month.
Francis Ngannou believes Mike Tyson will ‘beat up’ Jake Paul
Many fans and experts believe that Mike Tyson shouldn’t even be allowed into the ring at the age of 58, particularly against an active professional like Jake Paul at the age of 27. His last exhibition bout was in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr, with his last full pro bout in 2005.
But Francis Ngannou, having trained with him within the past year, believes that Tyson is still too good for Paul. Speaking at a media day for his PFL comeback fight against Renan Ferreira today, he told Bloody Elbow his brutal prediction for the fight.
“I think Tyson will still beat his a** up,” Ngannou said when asked for his thoughts on the bout. “He’s definitely not as he was when he was young but when he moves around you and shows you something, you’re like, ‘What the hell is this?’
“That’s something that people don’t understand about Mike Tyson. He moves from your left to your right in the blink of an eye.”
Francis Ngannou ‘barely noticed’ Jake Paul in face-off with Renan Ferreira
Ngannou and Paul have been in Washington DC to launch the October 19 Battle of the Giants, with the celebrity boxer hosting the launch event yesterday. The lineal MMA heavyweight champion faced off with 6’8″ Renan Ferreira in a gargantuan moment.
Fans on social media joked that Paul is somehow fighting in the same weight class as the two giants, despite seeming half their size in certain clips and photos. He even joked that he would have run away had the pair gotten into pushing and shoving.
“Jake Paul is not our weight class,” Ngannou noted. “We barely noticed that he was there! Other than the moment I walked in and shook his hand. But face-to-face to each other, when I looked into his eyes when I was looking up, I did not see Jake Paul at all. He wasn’t in my line.”
Jake Paul excited by doubters ahead of Mike Tyson clash.
Despite all of the controversy surrounding the fight, Paul has not been deterred from his excitement to face one of boxing’s most iconic names. In fact, he is relishing in the likes of Ngannou and Randy Couturepredicting his downfall.
“I love it,” Paul said in response to Ngannou’s brutal prediction for his next fight, which will be his fourth in 11 months. “It’s not going to be an easy fight. I think the first four rounds are going to be very difficult for me.
“And if I can weather the storm of Mike Tyson, the baddest man, hardest puncher on the planet, then I believe I can pull ahead in the later rounds and be able to stop him actually. But Francis is not wrong. I often times get scared of like that one punch and I have to be alert the whole time.”
