Mike Tyson is ‘scared to death’ about upcoming fight with Jake Paul

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson admits that he’s “scared to death” as he prepares for his upcoming bout with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

The Brooklyn-born fighter spoke about his eccentricities to Fox News anchor Sean Hannity, specifically as it pertains to how he faces his fears.

“I have a weird personality – I don’t think it’s weird, though. Whatever I’m afraid to do, I do it. That’s how it is.” Tyson said. “I was afraid of the Roy [Jones Jr. fight [in 2020]. I was 100 pounds overweight, I was however old, 54, 53, and I said ‘Let’s do it.’ Anything I’m afraid of, I confront it. That’s my personality. Right now, I’m scared to death.”

Mike Tyson has faced his fears before in the public sphere

Ironically — perhaps paradoxically — Tyson is not afraid of staring down his fears publicly. Recently, he famously faced his terror of sharks by getting into the ocean in the Bahamas with scuba divers and shark experts for the Discovery Channel during the famous “Shark Week.” Tyson was often bumped by tiger sharks, which are considered even more aggressive and dangerous than great white sharks.

Not only does Tyson believe that the recipe of fear and anxiety propelled him to worldwide fame and riches, he also said he will not act on something unless he is filled with fright.

“I always believed that adversity and nervousness pretty much catapulted me into success,” the storied athlete said. “If I didn’t have these feelings, I wouldn’t go into this fight. I have to have these feelings to fight. Without them, I would never go in the ring.”

Mike Tyson will use his fears to defeat Jake Paul

Tyson is convinced he will handily defeat Paul in the boxing match that’s set to go down at AT&T Stadium — home of the Dallas Cowboys, on July 20.

“As the fight gets closer, the less nervous I become, because it’s reality. And in reality, I’m invincible,” Tyson explained. 

Tyson also believes he has the answers for whatever Paul, a social media influencer who’s now a boxer, has to throw at him.

“This guy is gonna come, he’s gonna try to hurt me, which I’m accustomed to — and he’s gonna be greatly mistaken,” Tyson said.