Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson slapped Jake Paul during their final staredown on Thursday, ahead of their highly publicized Netflix-backed bout.
The incident occurred at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, immediately after their official weigh-in. Tyson, who is 58, struck Paul on the cheek with his right hand, prompting security to intervene and separate the two quickly.
Tyson, weighing 228.4 pounds and dressed in Versace briefs, made a brief statement before exiting the stage with his team. “Talking’s over,” he declared.
Read: Mike Tyson to Face Jake Paul in High-Stakes Boxing Match on Netflix
Paul, the 27-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, shrugged off the slap, claiming it didn’t affect him. “I didn’t even feel it—he’s an angry little elf… cute slap buddy,” remarked Paul, who weighed in at 227.2 pounds. He finished his comments with a vow to defeat Tyson, dramatically proclaiming into the microphone, “He must die.”
The bout, set for Friday, features Tyson reportedly earning $20 million for participating in the eight two-minute rounds. The event, streamed live on Netflix, has sparked debate within the boxing community, with some criticizing the decision to allow Tyson to fight nearly four decades after his debut and 19 years following his last official bout.
