EXCLUSIVE: Jake Paul reveals the worst thing about giving up sex and alcohol for Mike Tyson fight as he gives himself new nickname
Jake Paul has opened up on his decision to abstain from sex and alcohol before facing Mike Tyson and revealed how it's affected him heading into the biggest fight of his career.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, 27, will continue his pursuit of a world title on Friday night with a long-awaited fight against one of the greatest of all time.
Paul was expected to fight Tyson, 58, on July 20 but the bout was postponed after the former undisputed heavyweight champion suffered an ulcer flare-up in May.
The pair will finally meet on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a mouth-watering event, which will be streamed live by Netflix.
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Speaking exclusively to SPORTbible prior to the postponement of the fight, Paul opened up on his preparations and revealed that he planned to abstain from both sex and alcohol ahead of facing 'Iron Mike'.
"Yeah, [I've] definitely abstained from the normal things in terms of health like alcohol and all that stuff. But definitely the sex for a week or so leading up to a fight because it does create wobbly legs once you get hit in the head," said Paul.
"But I don't understand how people do that for months at a time. I feel like you would turn into a f***ing crazy person. But I do best when I'm having fun in the ring and relaxed, not on edge.
"I feel like some fighters like Mike have to get mad and get angry like 'I'm going to kill somebody'. I'm the complete opposite, I'll be in the locker room cracking jokes and making TikToks – not giving a s**t that I'm about to fight, and that's when I perform the best."
Paul has steadily bulked up for the heavyweight fight, with the American reportedly aiming to weigh in at around 220 pounds.
The bout is scheduled for eight rounds, with each round lasting two minutes - one minute shorter than the standard three-minute rounds typically used in men's professional boxing.
The two men will also use gloves that weigh 14 ounces rather than the standard 10-ounce gloves, typically used in sanctioned pro fights.
Despite those rule changes and concerns over the age gap between the two fighters, the bout has been sanctioned as a fully professional boxing match by Texas authorities.
When asked how many calories he's had to consume to get up to heavyweight, Paul admitted he was unsure but said he would be in perfect condition come the opening bell.
"I don't know what the calories would be, I would have to ask my chef, but it's definitely a lot. I am eating as much as I want with every meal – three or four meals a day," he said.
"My nickname has always been 'Big Diesel' – now it's just 'Bigger Diesel'. I have to put on that weight to hang with Mike in there. To be able to take the shots, the muscles, the clinch fighting when we're locked up.
"It's going to help, and over time in camp all of the fat is slowly going to turn into muscle. My coaches reminded me afterwards that everything we've done is on purpose – 'We purposely got you fat so that it turns into muscle'."
Paul is the heavy favourite with the bookmakers heading into the fight and the American is supremely confident of beating Tyson, despite the fearsome reputation of his opponent.
When asked what Tyson's biggest weakness is, Paul said: "Himself. His own mental state going into the fight."
He then referenced a heated press conference between the pair in May, adding: "I believe I already triggered that with that press conference. I don't think he liked when I was staring at him, that really bothered him.
"I think he saw that I have no fear of him in my eyes and that’s why he was such a powerful and ruthless champion, even before fights people were scared of getting knocked out by him, and his antics and aura.
"Him just looking like a vicious person. For me, I just don't have that and he saw that in my eyes. I believe I have a mental edge here and I think he is underestimating me, truly.
"I know he's training hard but the way he was talking about me – 'He doesn't have power, he couldn't knock out Tommy Fury and Nate Diaz'. Those are true things but I was a much different fighter then.
"With every year that goes by, I progress exponentially. Especially with the new team that I brought on after those fights. I think with the mind games, he isn't prepared for the new version of who I am as a fighter."
Paul is so confident, in fact, that he has already planned out his next move if he beats Tyson in Texas.
"I think what will happen is me going on a path to the cruiserweight belt and becoming world champion," added Paul.
"Once I have that belt, I believe [Saul] Canelo [Alvarez] will want to come challenge me at cruiserweight and want to become a four-division champion. That's the plan."
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson will be streamed exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15.
Topics: Jake Paul, Mike Tyson, Boxing, Spotlight
Rory O'Callaghan