As the highly anticipated clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson approaches, the YouTuber-turned-boxer's parents, Pam Stepnick and Greg Paul, express both confidence and concern about their son's fight against the former world heavyweight champion.
Paul fought against those
Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley
but this Friday's fight with Tyson looks set to be his biggest test yet. It will be the first-ever boxing match to be broadcast live on Netflix, potentially attracting a record-breaking audience.
Related
How to watch Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson: date, start time, fight card
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson are two of the biggest names in boxing history and they will meet in the ring in one of the biggest fights of all time.
Jake Paul's mother is scared after seeing Mike Tyson's open workout
Pam Stepnick watched Mike Tyson in his prime
Open training earlier this week attracted fans and media to see the two competitors in action. But while Jake Paul made a name for himself in the boxing world as a young disruptor, his mother Pam Stepnick revealed her deep-seated fears after seeing Tyson in person.
In conversation with the media Bloody elbowStepnick expressed her concerns about the upcoming fight and confirmed that she was very scared
“I watched him grow up, the 'baddest man on the planet.' Just watching him was scary.” When asked if anyone of hers was her biggest fear, she replied, “Hands down.”
She added: “But I won’t stop him! I never tell them they can't do something. I always tell them to do what they care about and achieve their goals, and I believe in you.”
Tyson, now 58, perhaps years past his prime but still his name
commands a certain level of fear and awe
both among older boxing fans and experts. While the younger generation points to Paul's youth and training as advantages, more seasoned fans remember Tyson's explosive power and the aura of intimidation he carried into every fight.
For those who witnessed Tyson dominate the heavyweight division, his name still symbolizes fearlessness and relentless aggression. Stepnick, who witnessed Tyson's reign firsthand, described watching the open workout: “I think Mike hopefully made that look better than it really was.” He's a professional, he gets his man on the ropes and leaves it looking like he was going to give him a real beating. I don't make predictions; I just hope Jake wins!”
Related
Greg Paul is confident that his son will win despite his fears
Greg Paul, Jake's father, expressed a similar mix of awe and fear. This fight is particularly surreal for Greg as he admired Tyson as a child. “Mike is a tremendous man,” Greg remarked, recalling his younger years as a fan of Tyson’s boxing style. “He’s a bad guy, but Jake’s up for it. He trained hard. I think Jake will win by TKO, but that’s definitely the biggest fear I’ve ever had going into a fight.”
Despite his fears, Greg is optimistic about his son's chances, buoyed by Jake's rigorous training and dedication. As Greg reflected on his memories of Tyson, he recalled the infamous “deafening incident” with Evander Holyfield. “Everyone remembers it,” he laughed.
“Tyson came out with black shorts, black shoes, no music, just pure boxing – it was incredible. I hugged him once on Logan's podcast and thought, 'Holy shit, this guy is solid.'”
While Tyson's legacy looms large, Jake Paul hopes to forge his own path in boxing. Greg believes his son's hard work and dedication will pay off and reiterated his TKO victory prediction during the interview. However, he admits that this fight can go either way at any time and both fighters have the power to end it early.
As Friday evening approaches, the generational gap in predictions widens. Young fans support Paul's youth and endurance, while experienced boxing fans pin their hopes on Tyson's wealth of experience.
