Tyron Woodley, a former UFC welterweight champion, is expressing an intriguing perspective on Mike Tyson‘s upcoming fight against Jake Paul, suggesting that the legendary boxer should not be underestimated despite the significant age difference.
Paul, boasting a professional record of 10 wins and 1 loss, is set to face off against the iconic 58-year-old Tyson, who holds an impressive boxing record of 50 wins, 6 losses, and 2 draws, on November 15 at the renowned AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.
While many professionals and pundits have voiced concerns regarding the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations sanctioning this matchup, primarily due to Tyson’s advanced age, Woodley offers a contrasting view.
“It’s a very even fight, to be honest,” Woodley remarked in an interview with TMZ. “It’s even because of the age of Mike Tyson. He’s completely obviously out of his prime. When in his prime, most of his fights were almost attempted murder.” He further elaborated, noting, “So literally, Jake wouldn’t have stood a chance. Nobody would even commission to sanction a fight against him and Mike Tyson (in Tyson’s prime).”
Woodley has firsthand experience battling Paul, having stepped into the ring with him twice in 2021. He initially lost their first encounter by a narrow split decision, only to be knocked out by Paul four months later, an outcome that came after only a short notice preparation.
In Woodley’s perspective, “The Problem Child,” as Paul is known, has a knack for strategically selecting his opponents. “Jake’s always in a win-win situation,” Woodley explained. “He’s fighting guys that if he loses, ‘You lost to this guy, you lost to Tyron, you lost to Anderson Silva, you lost to Nate Diaz or whatever.’” He added, “So he’s always in a position where, if he wins, he goes up. If he loses, it’s like OK, he took a risk, he took a chance. I like the fight. I’ll be at the fight.”
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**Interview with Tyron Woodley on the Upcoming Tyson vs. Paul Fight**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Tyron. With the highly anticipated fight between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul just around the corner, you’ve expressed that this matchup is hard to predict. What makes you feel that way?
**Tyron Woodley:** I think there are so many factors at play here. On one hand, you have Mike Tyson, a legendary boxer with unparalleled experience and a wealth of knowledge in the ring. Despite being 58 years old, he still possesses that raw power and instinct that made him a champion. On the other hand, Jake Paul is younger, has less experience in traditional boxing, but he’s trained hard and has found success in his own right.
**Interviewer:** Many critics have raised concerns about Tyson’s age. Do you think this could be a disadvantage for him against a younger fighter like Paul?
**Tyron Woodley:** Age is definitely a consideration, and it’s something that should not be overlooked. That said, Mike has been in the ring with some of the best, and that experience can outweigh the physicality that Jake brings. I wouldn’t count Tyson out just because of his age—he’s still a dangerous opponent.
**Interviewer:** It seems like a classic match-up of youth versus experience. How do you think that will play out in the ring?
**Tyron Woodley:** Exactly, it’s a battle between the old school and new school. If Tyson can leverage his experience and conditioning, he can dominate. But if Jake Paul can utilize his speed, agility, and fresh cardio, he might surprise everyone. It’s all about how they execute their game plans on fight night.
**Interviewer:** You’ve been in the octagon before—what advice would you give to both fighters leading up to this big event?
**Tyron Woodley:** For Mike, I’d say focus on maintaining that legendary mindset and find the rhythm that made you great. For Jake, it’s crucial to stick to the fundamentals and not let the moment overwhelm him. Both need to trust their training.
**Interviewer:** Lastly, do you have a personal prediction for the fight?
**Tyron Woodley:** Honestly, I can’t make a clear prediction. Each fighter has their own advantages. We’ll just have to watch and see how it unfolds in the ring. It’s going to be an exciting matchup for sure!
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Tyron. We look forward to seeing how this fight plays out on November 15th!
