Paul vs Tyson LIVE: Jake Paul makes outrageous bets and teases rival over old controversy ahead of weigh-in

Jake Paul has trolled Mike Tyson by wearing a $100,000 ear cover in reference to the former heavyweight world champion’s infamous history with biting opponents.

Reports suggest the item from Vobara is worth six figures, with Paul acquiring it ahead of Friday’s bout on Netflix.

Paul made reference to protecting his ear in a swipe related to Tyson and his notorious move to chew down on rival Evander Holyfield’s ear in their 1997 heavyweight rematch.

Mike Tyson’s once-ferocious fighting career was already helter-skeltering towards its feeble conclusion when the video-sharing platform YouTube first flickered into life in February 2005.

Four months later, the so-called ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’, who had cut a swathe through the world’s best heavyweights towards the end of the 1980s, was crumpling in the corner under the less than concussive fists of Irishman Kevin McBride in Washington DC.

Tyson’s pitiful professional conclusion, which followed innumerable controversies and scandals that dogged his career both in and out of the ring, served to soften the memory of the impact of those crushing early wins, and question his hard-won reputation as one of the most brutal and unforgiving world champions of all time.

So it is hardly surprising that Tyson professes himself entirely unconcerned by criticism of his decision to end his 19-year hiatus from the ring and return at the age of 58 to face the YouTuber Jake Paul in Arlington, Texas on Friday night.

Jake Paul is adamant he will fight Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez following his bout with Mike Tyson on Friday.

Paul, who is now 10-1 with seven knockouts and whose only defeat was on points to Tommy Fury, believes a cruiserweight bout against Alvarez for a version of the world title can be agreed for 2025.

“This moment will prove that I’m the face of boxing,” Paul said on Tuesday. “The largest attraction, and me vs Canelo at 200lbs for the cruiserweight world title is the biggest fight.”

Want to know how Tyson looked at Tuesday’s open workout?

How was his speed, power, attitude?

And here’s how Paul felt about Tyson’s withdrawal from the fight in May:

“When I received the news that he was out and not able to fight, I was just numb. I was just like, ‘f***…’ I’m the type of person who likes a schedule and likes to know what I’m doing. This just threw a wrench in all of that. There was nothing I could do, it was out of my control.”

Some of the concern for Tyson’s health stems not only from his age, but also from his health scare in late May.

The 58-year-old suffered an ulcer flare-up on a flight, forcing his bout with Paul to be delayed from July until this week.

And Tyson recently revealed that he was throwing up blood on the plane, when he went through his health scare.

How many rounds are there in Friday’s main event? How long is each round? Are knockouts allowed? Will the boxers be wearing head guards? How big are their gloves?

We answer all those questions here:

On the topic of Taylor vs Serrano 2, here’s Steve Bunce’s recent column on the state of women’s boxing: