Mike Tyson Says He'll Come Out as the 'Devil Himself' in Upcoming Fight with Jake Paul

"He’s going to try to hurt me, so I have to try to hurt him," Tyson said ahead of his fight with Paul

Mike Tyson, Jake Paul
Mike Tyson, Jake Paul. Photo:

Phillip Faraone/Getty; Alexander Tamargo/Getty

Mike Tyson is ready to step into the ring with Jake Paul.

As he prepares for his upcoming fight with Paul, 27, on Nov. 15, the 58-year-old boxer sounded confident when he told reporters, including ESPN, "I'm bringing the devil himself [to the ring]," during an open workout.

"There are no feelings attached," added Tyson, who called Paul a "friend" and a "very exciting fighter" in his recent Interview Magazine feature. The fighter went on to tell reporters that he's not going to hold back when he comes out at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas with the former YouTube star.

Tyson continued, "My own mother should be very careful if she has to get in the ring with me. When it's over, it's over. But while the process is going on, my intention is to hurt him. I hope he has the same intentions, or he is in trouble," per ESPN.

In his Interview feature, released on Nov. 12, Tyson spoke to actress Rosie Perez about his public perception — and why he doesn't care what people think of him. "It’s none of my business how people perceive me," Tyson told Perez, 60.

Mike Tyson speaks onstage during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Boxing match Arlington press conference at Texas Live! on May 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Tyson speaks onstage during the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson Boxing match Arlington press conference.

Cooper Neill/Getty

"It’s how I perceive myself. They can think I’m the psycho guy, the prison guy, the fucking guy that didn’t give a fuck and just said anything without a filter. If they believe I’m the guy that’s trying to get my shit together, that’s cool too. But it doesn’t really matter."

"It only matters what I feel and what I believe in myself," Tyson added.

Tyson told Perez for Interview that he's impressed with Paul's wide audience reach and and ability to "put on a show" in the ring. "Boxing is part entertainment and part spiritual," said Tyson. "When you fight, you fight with your spirit, your will, your determination. Your skill doesn’t just do it alone."

Jake Paul, Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson, Jake Paul.

Alexander Tamargo/Getty, Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty

But when he gets face-to-face with Paul, Tyson considers all bets off. "Hey, I’m in a fight. I’m defending myself. He’s going to try to hurt me, so I have to try to hurt him."

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The highly-anticipated contest between Paul and Tyson was first announced in March, but it had to be rescheduled from the original July 20 date to Nov. 15 after Tyson was diagnosed with an ulcer flare-up in May.

Tyson went 50-6-2 with 44 knockouts throughout his career, officially taking a step back from boxing in 2005 (although he most recently went head-to-head with Roy Jones Jr. in a 2020 exhibition match). He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011.

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