Daniel Cormier: 'It's surprising to me that Mike Tyson is fighting'

On Nov. 15, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson will return to the ring to take on influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.  The biggest question heading into the fight is how Tyson will perform at 58-years old.  

“What if this thing looks like a 58-year old man fighting a 28-year old man when Mike can’t draw from that reserve tank to stay and compete with this young kid,” questioned former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier. 

Most people agree that Tyson has probably maintained his punching power but to keep pace with a person 30 years younger seems unlikely. 

“They way Mike looks on those pads when he is hitting pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in there.  But then I watched Jake Paul fight Mike Perry, and I watched Jake Paul get pressed to where he starts to feel uncomfortable and it looked like Mike Perry had a chance.  But Jake has a reserve tank to go to and draw from because he’s 28-years old and then he comes back and actually finishes Mike Perry,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel.  

“Early in the fight, Mike Perry is getting beat on, dropped.  He looks out-manned.  He looks outmatched.  Middle rounds, he starts to work his way back in the fight.  Mike Perry is also a young guy, but as the fight went longer, Jake Paul draws on this reserve and finishes Mike Perry.  Many believe that in that reserve  there’s a few banned things.  But at the end of the day, it allows for Jake to draw from that and put himself on the path to get a victory.  That is my concern,” continued Cormier.  

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Cormier expressed surprise that Tyson accepted the fight against Paul.  After all, Tyson doesn’t need the money and his legacy has been cemented.  “DC” also pondered what happens if Paul loses.    

“Mike Tyson actually doesn’t really need the money, so it’s surprising to me that he’s fighting.  It’s very surprising to me that he’s fighting,” Cormier said.   

“I think it’s a lose-lose for Jake Paul because everybody loves Mike Tyson.  You’re beating up Mike Tyson.  Like, everybody loves Mike Tyson,” Cormier continued.  “What if Mike knocks him out, though?  Then it’s over.  Everything’s done.  It would be an all-time backfire.  Nothing has been done like that in the history of sports if he gets knocked out.”