A legendary former opponent of Mike Tyson has offered to step in and fight Jake Paul, raising excitement and anticipation in the boxing community. Fresh concerns have emerged regarding Tyson’s ability to face Paul following the cancellation of their July 20 showdown. The 57-year-old Tyson suffered an ulcer flare-up on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles, necessitating urgent medical attention after he became nauseous and dizzy.
In light of these developments, one of the biggest stars in the sport has expressed his willingness to replace Tyson against ‘The Problem Child.’ Roy Jones Jr., a retired boxing legend who fought Tyson in an exhibition bout in November 2020, has now thrown his hat in the ring to face Paul if the clash with ‘Iron’ Mike fails to materialize.
Jones Jr., 55, resumed his pro boxing career back in April 2023 when he fought former UFC champion Anthony Pettis. The former four-weight world champion never faced Tyson during their pro careers, but their exhibition match showcased their enduring skills and competitive spirit.
Speaking to Betway, Jones Jr. shared his readiness to step in for Tyson. “Maybe I get myself in shape for that because I never thought about doing it before, but with the situation of the fight [being postponed], I think that’s a great idea,” he said. “And I’ll be ready and in shape, because if the fight doesn’t happen, then I’m the ideal guy to substitute in place of Mike Tyson to fight Jake Paul. It is something I have been thinking about. If the [Jake Paul] fight is out there, then yes [I would take it].”
Jones Jr. added, “I haven’t thought about [how I would box Paul] because, me being me, I only think about being the best I can be and have never thought about that. I figure it out in the ring. There was obviously the Tommy Fury thing, and then the other day somebody asked me whether I would fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in an exhibition, and that’s crazy. I would jump on it, but now that this thing has come up, it makes sense to get into shape [to face] Jake Paul, and it would be one of the biggest fights of this decade.”
As the boxing world awaits further updates, the prospect of Jones Jr. replacing Tyson against Jake Paul has generated significant buzz. Fans and analysts are eager to see if this potential matchup will come to fruition, promising an electrifying showdown that could rival some of the most memorable bouts in recent history.
