BOXING legend Butterbean has claimed a “scam” is at play for Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson.
The controversial clash – scrutinised for the three-decade age gap – was set for June 20 but Tyson, 58, was forced out amid a health precaution.
Paul, 27, instead stopped replacement Mike Perry, 32, after three knockdowns before confirming his rescheduled November 15 bout with Tyson.
But KO icon Butterbean – real name Eric Esch – insisted the fight will purposely never go ahead.
He said: “Him and Tyson are never gonna fight. That has been a scam from the very beginning just to boost Jake’s name – and it has.
“This guy, everybody’s talking about him, but he’s never gonna fight Tyson.
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“They were never planning on fighting each other, because a promoter would never let him fight anyone else in between a fight.
“Never – not that big a fight. It’s been a scam from the beginning.”
During the height of his career Butterbean weighed as much as 36 STONE and only ever went past the fourth round once – against the great Larry Holmes.
His last boxing bout was in 2013 but he has teased a comeback in recent years having lost a stunning 14 STONE.
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Butterbean wants to fight Paul and called him out to a £1.5million winner-take-all bout.
He said on TikTok: “Hey Jake Paul, would you fight me for $2m [£1.5m]? Winner takes all.”
Butterbean, 57, over 100 fights across boxing, kickboxing and MMA while even having a run in pro wrestling.
He lost the huge amount of weight after starring in a TV show alongside former wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.
Butterbean had 91 boxing bouts – compared to just the 11 of 10-1 Paul.
The social media sensation’s only loss came in 2023 against Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy, 25, in Saudi Arabia but has won four since.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
