A tense atmosphere boiled over at the final face-off between Mike Tyson and Jake Paul ahead of their highly anticipated heavyweight clash in Dallas, Texas. The two fighters, who met in the ring on Friday night, exchanged a dramatic moment during the weigh-in when Tyson slapped Paul across the face. The incident occurred after Paul crawled across the floor to meet Tyson at eye level for their traditional head-to-head pose. Tyson, who had largely avoided engaging with Paul’s taunts throughout the fight week, snapped and delivered the slap, prompting security to rush in and separate the two men.
Following the slap, Tyson, 58, walked off stage, declaring, “Talking’s over.” Meanwhile, 27-year-old Paul, seemingly unfazed, laughed and responded, “I didn’t even feel it. He’s an angry little elf.” He continued, “Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but tomorrow you’re getting knocked out.” Despite Tyson’s reputation as a fierce competitor and two-time world champion, this marks his first professional fight in nearly 20 years, with his last bout taking place in 2005. Tyson weighed in at 16st 4lb, just a pound heavier than Paul.
While the weigh-in was dominated by the Tyson-Paul drama, the event also featured a more subdued and respectful moment from two of the best in women’s boxing. Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, who will rematch in a light-welterweight contest, faced off calmly after easily making weight at 9st 11lb each. Taylor, the reigning undisputed lightweight champion, reflected on the significance of their upcoming fight, calling it a defining moment for women in the sport. “This is our time,” said Serrano, who narrowly lost to Taylor in a 2022 classic.
Despite the spectacle surrounding the Tyson-Paul fight, the weigh-in itself was unconventional. The fighters weighed in behind closed doors earlier in the day, with the official results revealed during the evening’s ceremonial event, which attracted a crowd of around 3,000 fans. The venue was filled with unusual entertainment, including Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and costumed figures resembling giant Transformers. Fans seemed to enjoy the spectacle, with many taking a swing on a boxing punch machine featuring Paul’s face. However, it was the slap between Tyson and Paul that stole the show, setting the stage for what promises to be an unpredictable fight in the ring.
