Tensions rise as Tyson slaps Paul at final weigh-in before Friday’s bout

What was meant to be a routine ceremonial weigh-in for Mike Tyson and Jake Paul turned into a dramatic moment of tension on Thursday, setting the stage for a showdown between the boxing legend and the social media sensation.

The event, broadcast live from the Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas, began with both fighters stepping on the scale. Paul, the 27-year-old YouTube star turned boxer, weighed in at 227 pounds, just a half-pound lighter than Tyson, the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion, who tipped the scales at 228.4 pounds. But it was the aftermath of the weigh-in that drew the most attention.

The confrontation quickly escalated when Tyson slapped Paul across the face. Security rushed in to separate the two, but the altercation only fueled the animosity between the fighters.

Paul, brushing off the slap, maintained his defiant posture. “I didn’t even feel it,” he said with a laugh. “He’s an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap.” His casual demeanor contrasted with Tyson’s terse response: “Talking is over.” But Paul, ever the showman, wasn’t done. “It’s personal now,” he shot back, signaling that the bad blood between the two had reached a new boiling point.

Mike Tyson slaps Jake Paul during the final faceoff before their main event showdown pic.twitter.com/Y3MNusqtrT

— Türkiye Today (@turkiyetodaycom) November 15, 2024

The weigh-in incident comes as little surprise to those who have been following the build-up to Friday’s highly anticipated fight. Tyson, who has largely remained silent and disengaged in the days leading up to the bout, has given few clues about his mindset. But the slap on Thursday made one thing clear: Tyson’s calm façade may have cracked under the pressure.

Earlier this week, Tyson’s body language had suggested a lack of enthusiasm for the event. At a press conference on Wednesday, he barely spoke, leaving much of the spotlight to Paul. The fiery exchange at the weigh-in, however, showed that Tyson is far from indifferent to the upcoming bout. “It’s time,” he said simply after the incident, as he walked off stage, leaving his opponent to escalate the tension further.

Paul, for his part, has never shied away from controversy. He quickly upped the ante, suggesting that Tyson’s slap only proved how serious things had become. “He’s angry, he’s getting knocked the —- out,” Paul proclaimed. “He hits like a —-. It’s personal now; he must die.”

The trash talk, though extreme, reflects the stakes both fighters have placed on the event. For Tyson, the fight is an opportunity for redemption after years of being out of the spotlight. For Paul, it’s yet another chance to prove that he belongs in the world of professional boxing, this time against one of its most iconic figures.

The fight will be streamed live on Netflix, with the main card starting at 8 p.m. ET on Friday. While Tyson has not fought professionally since 2005, his reputation as one of the sport’s fiercest competitors remains. Paul, on the other hand, has steadily built a name for himself in the boxing world, despite mixed reactions from critics who question the legitimacy of his opponents.

Both fighters have made it clear that they expect nothing less than a knockout victory. Paul has said he doesn’t anticipate the fight going the full distance, adding that someone will be “put to sleep” by the end of it. “It’s going to be a war, and we’re both heavy hitters,” Paul said earlier this week. “It’s not going the full 16 minutes.”

The weight of the event is not lost on either fighter. Paul made sure to highlight the significance of the occasion, noting that the fight had broken records. “This is the biggest live gate in U.S. boxing history outside of Las Vegas,” Paul remarked. “Numbers don’t lie. People want to see this.”

With the dramatic exchange at the weigh-in now in the rearview mirror, all attention will turn to the main event on Friday night. Fans across the world are eager to see whether Tyson’s slap will signal a fiery performance in the ring or if Paul’s unflappable confidence will carry him to victory.