Mike Tyson's honest opinion of Jake Paul as reason he pulled out of fight emerges

Mike Tyson has confessed to having a soft spot for Jake Paul, despite his desire to inflict pain on him in the ring. The 58-year-old boxing icon is gearing up to face the Ohio-born YouTuber turned boxer on November 15 - a fight that has divided opinions across the boxing community.

With a significant age difference of 31 years, there's growing concern for Tyson's health and safety. Unlike an exhibition, this fight will have real consequences for their records, giving Paul even more reason to aim for a knockout against his older adversary.

The bout had been delayed previously due to Tyson suffering from a stomach ulcer, but now he asserts that his health issues are resolved and his diet is under control, declaring himself ready to battle Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, which can hold 90,000 spectators. Tyson acknowledges his fondness for Paul but insists that in the upcoming fight that Paul "has to go."

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Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tyson shared his views on the controversial former Disney actor, stating: "I like him but in this particular fight he has to go. I don't look at this like it's going to be an easy right. This guy is going to be prepared, but I'm prepared for it sure."

Addressing the notion that Paul might be intimidated, Tyson added: "Well, that's part of fighting, I'm nervous too. But the closer it gets to the fight, the least nervous I get."

"I'm training extremely hard. I start at 11am and I might leave the gym at 5pm. When I finish doing my boxing sessions, I'll get a massage for an hour and then I go into strength and conditioning."

His remarks offer a stark contrast to his recent confession regarding his diet and vaping habits leading up to their initial fight date. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he mentioned that he "can't escape the vapes" and that his indulgence in "too much bad food and stuff" resulted in illness.

With the upcoming fight contributing to his professional record of 50 wins, 44 by knockout, and six losses, some speculate whether it could impact his standing in the sport. Tyson, however, appears unfazed about his legacy, stating: "I didn't take this fight for legacy. I think legacy really, to my perspective, legacy is ego. Who gives a f*** how people think about them when they are gone? I'm dead. I can't value off what somebody might think about me when I'm dead, so it means nothing to me."

It's noteworthy that Tyson hasn't participated in a competitive match since his defeat by Kevin McBride in 2005. In contrast, Paul holds a record of 10 wins, seven by knockout, with just one loss, and has recently triumphed over bare-knuckle champion Mike Perry this past July, achieving knockdowns in the first, second, and sixth rounds.