JAKE PAUL has been hit with a case of friendly fire after one of his own sparring partners backed Mike Tyson to win their fight.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul faces heavyweight great Tyson on Friday in a controversial clash slammed over the age difference.
Unbeaten DeAndre Savage was among a number of heavyweights brought into Paul’s camp for sparring ahead of the bout.
But 6-0 Savage has actually thrown his support to Iron Mike – even if he gives him just four minutes to get the job done.
He told SunSport: “Mike Tyson is up in age. I would like to see Mike come and win again because that’s a top two, top three heavyweight ever.
“I would like to see Mike Tyson win but if he don’t knock him out early, Mike’s not gonna win the fight.
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“If he don’t knock him out in the first two rounds, Mike ain’t gonna win the fight.”
Despite striking up a relationship with Paul and his camp, Savage will be cheering from Tyson’s corner on fight night.
He said: “Mike Tyson, he’s a big dog in the boxing game, he’s the top dog.
“Jake Paul just started but Jake Paul is one of the greatest marketers in the game.
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“Besides Floyd Mayweather – Floyd Mayweather to me is the best marketer in the game. But yeah, Jake Paul is a great marketer, great great promoter.”
Paul is not the only big name Savage has sparred in camp, sharing rounds with Jarrell Miller and Andy Ruiz Jr.
And he admitted 10-1 Paul – who only debuted professionally in 2020 – is not yet at that top level.
Savage said: “He can’t really compare to other heavyweights that I box because Andy Ruiz; punching power is crazy, Big Baby Miller, punching power is crazy.
“So you know, Jake is a good mover. He’s a good boxer but he’s still learning. Jake does a pretty good job, he got a good right hand but he’s still green.
“When I sparred him the first time, I realised that he was still green.”
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Savage put the money earned from camps with the likes of Paul to buying his first house.
And he was quick to praise the prankster-gone-prizefighter for his dedication to the sport.
Savage said: “From the outside looking in and listening to everyone else, the world is not taking Jake serious.
“But Jake does work hard and he’s still a little green, so I understand the route that he’s taking.
“Fighting the UFC fighters and stuff like that and people that don’t really know how to box because he’s still green.
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“But, Jake sells out the arena, sells the tickets, he’s doing big things that some people wish that they can do, things that people wish they can do and they can’t do it.
“But yeah, Jake worked real hard, work real hard. He got some great moves in the ring.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
