EXCLUSIVE
‘This is ghastly’ – Simon Jordan had blunt reaction to Mike Tyson vs Jake ‘Sideshow Bob’ Paul announcement
Simon Jordan has branded Jake Paul's upcoming exhibition bout with Mike Tyson 'c***'.
The YouTuber-turned-boxer is set to square off against Tyson on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, live on Netflix.
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Paul has made a name for himself in the sport by beating up ageing combat sports legends like Anderson Silva but recently began taking on low-level pro boxers in pursuit of a more traditional path.
However, his next fight against Tyson, who will have recently celebrated his 58th birthday by the time he climbs into the ring, sees a return to the old formula.
Tyson's health is of real concern to many as he gets ready to duke it out with a man 31 years his junior.
Familiar faces from the world of boxing including Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have already made it clear that they are adamantly against the fight taking place. A sentiment that Jordan shares.
"Kevin McBride was the last person to fight Mike Tyson and effectively retired what was left of Mike Tyson," he said on the latest episode of the .
"I grew up with Mike Tyson. I think there's an argument to say that he's one of the greatest heavyweights that ever lived.
"Tony Tucker, [Shannon] Briggs, Frank Bruno, he fought everyone that was out there. That was a generation of fighters that I think were very significant.
"I admire Jake Paul and his brother for making lots of money out of this from the YouTube space.
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"But it's Sideshow Bob, for me, and I don't understand why Mike Tyson would want to be in this space. My reaction was, this is ghastly."
Boxing has been through several highs and lows in recent years.
Last year, seven undisputed champions were crowned while the major blockbuster events are being churned out at an unprecedented rate for the modern era.
Yet, on the other hand, the rise of influencer boxing has been a real point of contention.
"I think it drags boxing and potential boxing people into a difficult space," said Jordan.
"I think this idea that it's all about Disneyfication, it is commercial, it's business. It's television entertainment, I get it.
"But it's also eroding the parameters of boxing. I think the crossover argument with MMA questioned the validity of boxing.
"I think some of the people that are involved in boxing, have questioned the validity of boxing and make the mainstream media look at it as like, 'erk'.
"And I think this with Mike Tyson being dragged into a situation where irrespective of how clever these boys are, in terms of Jake Paul and being able to use YouTube and the influencer marketplace. I think it's c***."
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