The Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight has been dealt a blow just weeks before the event.
Boxing legend Tyson is set to fight YouTuber turned boxer Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, home of the Dallas Cowboys, on November 15.
Now 58, Tyson is returning to the ring after nearly 20 years – he retired in 2005 following a loss to Kevin McBride.
The event was initially scheduled for July, but Tyson had to pull out because of stomach ulcers and the fight was rearranged.
Advert
There were also reports that promoters have slashed prices on certain ticket categories.
And now one of the fights on the undercard has suffered a late change due to injury.
A lightweight bout between Lucas Bahdi and Corey Marksman had been scheduled as part of the event, but Marksman has had to withdraw.
Italian Armando Casamonica has taken his place so the fight can go ahead.
The controversial event has sparked significant interest, and a $2m VIP package – including a locker room visit with Tyson and Paul – has been made available.
Tyson has been seen training for the fight, and footage of him throwing a left hook left many fans convinced that Paul could be in for a damaging night.
And Iron Mike’s former heavyweight rival Lennox Lewis is also backing him to get the job done against Paul.
.jpg)
"It's hard to box when you're that old, moving around the ring, throwing punches, getting punches thrown at you, but I think he can handle it," Lewis told Sky Sports.
"I was thinking that Jake Paul was going to be in trouble, because Mike Tyson knows how to throw great body punches, great head shots. We just have to see if he's going to do them in the ring - I'm hoping that he'll do that.”
He added: "[I expect to see] Mike Tyson just kind of cutting off the ring and throwing body and head blows, when he can catch up to Jake Paul,"
The event is being exclusively streamed on Netflix and will be free for subscribers to access.
Topics: Boxing, Boxing News, Mike Tyson
Alex Chivers