UFC

MIKE TYSON rang up UFC president Dana White and roasted him for blasting his comeback fight last year.
The Baddest Man on the Planet, 54, came out of retirement to take on Roy Jones Jr, 51, in an exhibition in November.

Dana White was this week’s guest on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcastCredit: YouTube: Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson

The UFC chief publicly condemned Iron Mike’s comeback fight with Roy Jones Jr until a phone call set him straightCredit: Getty

The highly-anticipated bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles ended as a draw with no knockouts allowed.
Despite many youngsters being excited at the prospect of getting to witness one of the greatest fighters ever climbing back into the ring, many mocked Iron Mike and the whole event due to his age.
White has one of those to publicly criticise and mock the showdown after hearing the rules, saying: “They’re not allowed to knock each other out?
“How do you enforce that? I’d like to bet that doesn’t happen. Can you bet on that?”

He also hit out at the veterans being allowed to compete again due to their age – however he soon changed his tune after a phone call from the former world heavyweight boxing champ.
White was a guest on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, and he explained: “Somebody asked me at a press conference about it and I said ‘I don’t like it, I don’t want them to do it, this and that…’
“Then he called me and was like: ‘Listen man, we’ve been friends for a long time but I’m a grown ass man, if I wanna fight I’m gonna f***ing fuck! Don’t be f***ing negative about my fight.’
“And I said ‘you know what, you’re right. You won’t hear a f***ing peep out of me again.’

“Then when I watched the fight I thought he looked really f***ing good.”
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Tyson then chipped in, saying: “Forget that though and listen to this.
“I’m 54 and they are going to give me $100m fight and you think that I’m going to say no?
“That’s more than I got fighting for championships!”
White replied: “I love the guy but I just have this thing when you get to a certain age it is tough to perform at a level you did when you were younger.
“There’s no reason… he can make money anywhere and doing anything.
“But, he’s not wrong and I will admit it, when you get offered that sort of f***ing money, it’s hard to turn down to do something you’ve been good at your entire life.”
White also sent Tyson wild as the UFC boss bet $1m on Jake Paul to LOSE to Ben Askren in their upcoming boxing fight – before the YouTuber doubled the wager.

Dana White sends Mike Tyson wild as UFC boss bets $1m on Jake Paul to LOSE to Ben Askren – before YouTuber doubles wager More

DANA WHITE had Mike Tyson giddy after betting $1million Jake Paul would lose to Ben Askren.
And the YouTuber responded by DOUBLING the wager.

Dana White slammed Jake Paul’s boxing credentials and said he would bet $1m on him losing to Ben AskrenCredit: Twitter

Mike Tyson could not contain his excitement at the prospect of the massive wagerCredit: Twitter

Paul, 24, has a perfect 2-0 professional boxing record and takes on retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, 36, in his next fight on April 17.
But appearing on Tyson’s Hotboxin’ podcast, the UFC president vowed to put his money where his mouth is.
White said: “I hope you can bet on this thing because I will bet $1m (£720,000) that he loses this f***ing fight.
“I bet a million dollars that he loses this fight!”

And boxing icon Tyson was loving it as he whooped, laughed and clapped at the prospect of White stumping up the cash.
White – who admitted to being a ‘degenerate gambler’ and once lost a $1m boxing bet – added: “Let’s be honest, Jake Paul isn’t a f***ing boxer.
“This guy is a f***ing YouTube kid.
“The kid he’s going to fight is a decorated wrestler who has fought real guys, he’s been a world champion with another organisation.”

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Paul beat AnEsonGib in his pro debut in January 2020 with a first-round TKO and backed that up by knocking out ex-NBA star Nate Robinson in November.
And former boxing champ Zab Judah had The Problem Child’s back after seeing him in training.
Responding to White on the podcast, Judah said: “Dana I watched him, he’s been working hard, Dana. I have seen him put it together.
“He’s got hands. I am not joking.”
The video quickly made its way to Paul and he immediately challenged White to double his money and for both men to put $2m on the line instead.

The YouTube star shared a video responding rather dramatically to the original clip on Instagram – throwing a head off a statue and then running out on to the street before calling out White for a fight.
He wrote: “Dana let’s double the bet up! $2 Million. We wire the money into escrow.
“$4 million total. Winner takes all. My team will be in touch to make a contract.
“After I knockout Ben, we can set up Jake Paul vs Dana White 2021 since you consider yourself a ‘Boxer’ and me a ‘YouTuber,” before finishing it off with a clown emoji aimed at the UFC chief.

Paul has won both of his professional bouts so far in his career with knockoutsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Paul shared a video on Instagram responding to White’s claim – and told the UFC boss to double his money for a $2m wager insteadCredit: Instagram

For some reason the excitable YouTuber decided to throw the head and torso off a statueCredit: Instagram

Jake Paul is cutting no corners with his diet

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JAKE PAUL is rapidly improving as a professional fighter ahead of his bout with Ben Askren, his sparring partner has revealed.
The YouTuber has two knockouts in as many bouts since turning over in 2020.

Jake Paul pictured with Hasim Rahman JrCredit: https://twitter.com/_HasimRahmanJr/status/1314032111276290049

Ex-UFC welterweight Ben Askren fights Jake Paul on April 17Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Hasim Rahman Jr – whose dad Sr famously knocked out Lennox Lewis – sparred before both of Paul’s two fights, with his brother Logan, 25, too.
And he hailed BJ Flores – an ex-cruiserweight contender – for his work as trainer and predicts the social media star will continue KOing opponents if he gets to handpick them.
Rahman Jr, 29, told Pro Boxing Fans: “I sparred Jake twice and the first time was like almost night and day the second time.
“The first time he was just learning, the second time was obviously months later and he definitely has dedicated himself to the craft of boxing and you can see the results in his sparring.

“He’s definitely throwing his punches better and sitting down on his punches. BJ has done a great job and he’s learning and he’s getting better.
“[The] proof is in the pudding. He even looked better from his first fight to his second fight, even though you couldn’t see much.
“Don’t sleep on Jake Paul he really trains, he really takes it serious and I think he’s going to keep knocking these guys out.
“If they keep letting him pick his opponents, he’s going to keep knocking them out.”

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Paul, 24, debuted last January stopping online rival ‘AnEsonGib’ before leaving ex-NBA player Nate Robinson, 36, flattened in November.
He faces his first big step up in competition on April 17, fighting retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren.
But Askren, 36, was renowned for his limited striking style but dominant wrestling and grappling skills.
As a result, Paul is the betting favourite to add the biggest name yet to his record and another highlight reel to his collection.
And Rahman Jr is in agreement, as he said: “Ben Askren, he’s probably going to get knocked out.
“Jake grew up fighting, I think he was a state champion wrestler.

Logan Paul, Hasim Rahman Jr and Jake Paul
“He has experience in combat, he’s not just like foreign to getting hit and that’s what people sleep on.
“People think that he just picked this up out of nowhere and he’s trying to semi work his way up.
“No, he’s dedicated to it, he’s dedicated to not being embarrassed when they turn on them lights.
“I wish him much continued success. He’s going to keep shocking a lot of people.”
Recently Paul has been involved in an internet feud with 5-0 Tommy Fury, the half-brother to WBC heavyweight champion Tyson, 32.
Light-heavyweight Tommy, 21, his trainer and dad John as well as promoter Frank Warren have all expressed their interest in fighting Paul.

Tyson Fury’s half-brother TommyCredit: Reuters
And it would be the first time the millionaire vlogger would have fought an established fighter.
But Rahman Jr backed Paul to to take inspiration from his dad, the two-time champ who upset Lewis in April 2001, but lost the rematch seven months later.
He said: “I think that if he continues what he’s doing, if he continues to do that, you can’t put anything past any man.
“Maybe he could compete with the boxers, maybe he’ll shock somebody, you never know.
“If he keeps doing what he does, there’s no reason to count him out in any fight. I come from the Rahman family, so we already know when people get slept on that’s when they wake up the world.
“So, don’t sleep on that he can fight, you better stop sleeping on him he can fight.”

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