Today, at the inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC—a dynamic sports festival where sports, culture, and collecting converge—Jake “El Gallo” Paul (10-1, 7 KOs) and Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs), known as the “Baddest Man on the Planet,” faced off for the first time since their historic bout, promoted by Netflix and Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), was rescheduled. The Paul vs. Tyson match is set for an eight-round professional fight with two-minute rounds, streaming live globally and exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 15, 2024, from the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Tickets are now available at Seatgeek.com.
During the press conference at the Javits Center in New York, hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and Super Bowl Champion Ryan Clark, Paul and Tyson shared their thoughts on the upcoming fight. See their quotes below, and watch the full press conference on MVP’s YouTube and Netflix’s YouTube channels.
Jake Paul Quotes
On why he’s fighting Mike Tyson:
“Making history. That’s what it’s all about for me. I’m just a kid from Ohio, and no matter what I do, they’ll never give me credit. But I’m here to make history. People think I’m going to get knocked out by this strong, powerful guy. They’re in my comments saying, ‘look at his power, he’s going to KO you.’ But I’m taking a chance fighting someone as vicious as Mike. You’ve got to risk it for the biscuit. I’m here to challenge myself, to fight one of the most dangerous men in boxing. No one ever achieved greatness by walking an easy road. I’m here to prove all the haters wrong.”
On the prospect of knocking out Tyson:
“People are yelling at me, but what happens when I put this man to sleep? He’s saying it’s going to be my funeral, that he’s going to kill Jake Paul. That’s why I love Mike—I respect him—but until November 15th, we’re not friends. I’m knocking this guy out, and we’ll see who’s really dead.”
On how the fight will end:
“Mike wanted it to be a pro fight, so he’s going to get his ass knocked out, and it’ll count on his professional record. You’ll see it on BoxRec: Jake Paul KOs Mike Tyson.”
On the criticisms against him:
“At the end of the day, people will always have something to say because of who I am. I’ve proven everyone wrong. Reminder: Muhammad Ali was the most hated and criticized boxer before people loved him. I’m the anti-hero, but people will love me once they see what I’ve done for this sport. But it doesn’t bother me because when you’re at the top, people try to pull you down. That’s just the way the game goes.”
On what’s next after Paul vs. Tyson:
“I’m still on the path to becoming a world champion. There are a lot of big names who want to fight me. I still want Canelo Alvarez, and I’m here to pursue a world championship. I’ll make it happen, and when it does, people will say, ‘God damn, that kid did something we didn’t expect.’”
On why he took the Mike Perry fight after Paul vs. Tyson was rescheduled:
“In this sport, staying active is key. I’m on the path to a world championship. I’ll take the money fights, knock out some legends, but at the end of the day, I want the belt. That’s what I’m here to do.”
On how Mike Tyson will help him on his path to becoming a world champion:
“This is a fight with big moments, big pressure, and big stages against one of the greatest to ever do it. Mike has more experience, more fights, and I’m going to learn a lot from this fight and training camp. This will help me in my future fights and everything I want to accomplish.”
Mike Tyson Quotes
On his ulcer flare-up and recovery:
“I’m very prepared to knock out Jake Paul. I had a small setback with getting sick, but I feel good now. I’m ready to fight.”
On being back in training camp:
“I’ve been back in training for a while, like two or three weeks. I’m in camp.”
On whether fans will see 1990s Mike Tyson in the ring:
“Listen, as soon as I catch this guy, it’s over. Jake Paul will be running around the ring, but once I catch him, it’s going to be totally over.”
On what happens to anyone who steps in the ring against him:*
“I’m going to fuck you up.”
On if Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will happen on Friday, November 15:
“It’s happening. We’re all here.”
On why he’s stepping back into the ring:
“I don’t know. That’s a funny question. I’m doing it because I can. Who else can make an event like this happen? Just look at it—who else could he fight?”
On Jake’s disrespectful words:
“I don’t know. He amazes me.”
(Crowd chants “Fuck Jake Paul”)
On whether he’ll fight again after Paul vs. Tyson:
“We have options. We’ll see.”
