- Jake, 27, and Mike, 58, will step into the ring to face off on Friday night
- Mario told DailyMail.com that he refuses to watch the event
- He said he has ‘too much respect for the sport’ and called it a ‘joke’
Mario Lopez has branded Jake Paul and Mike Tyson‘s upcoming fight as a ‘joke,’ telling DailyMail.com that he refuses to watch it because he has ‘too much respect for the sport.’
The YouTuber-turned-boxer, 27, and the acclaimed sports star, 58, will step into the ring to face off on Friday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The highly-anticipated event – which will air live on Netflix – has attracted the attention of millions due to their difference in age and experience in combat sports.
But there’s one person who will not be turning in to watch, and that’s TV host and actor Mario, 51, as he ferociously slammed the brawl when DailyMail.com caught up with him back in May.
Mario, 51, who is a huge fan of the sport and runs his own podcast dedicated to it, confessed at the time, ‘Man I am so discouraged by [that fight].
‘It’s a joke. I don’t even want to acknowledge that fight… It’s a joke. It’s a joke. It’s a joke.’
When asked if that meant he wasn’t going to watch, the star added, ‘No, I’m not. I have too much respect to the sport.’
During the weigh-in on Thursday, Mike had to be dragged away from an enraged Jake after he slapped the YouTuber in the face – and the shocking moment only added to the intrigue surrounding the fight.
Jake seemed unfazed after the attack, blowing kisses at the former champion as his posse held him back.
Mario Lopez has branded Jake Paul and Mike Tyson ‘s upcoming fight as a ‘joke,’ telling DailyMail.com that he refuses to watch it because he has ‘too much respect for the sport’
The YouTuber-turned-boxer, 27, and the acclaimed sports star, 58, will step into the ring to face off on Friday night at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
Mario, 51, ferociously slammed the brawl when DailyMail.com caught up with him back in May, stating, ‘It’s a joke. I don’t even want to acknowledge that fight’
‘Talking’s over,’ Mike responded, before exiting with his entourage.
Jake said later: ‘I didn’t even feel it. He’s angry. He’s an angry little elf. Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap.’
But Jake then launched into a series of expletive-laden remarks, promising to end Iron Mike in the upcoming fight.
‘It’s personal now,’ he ranted. ‘Now he’s got to die,’ which is the fate many fear may befall a 58-year-old boxer making a comeback two decades after his last professional fight.
Mike has not had a non-exhibition match since 2005, going to a draw with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 in a bout that was scored by the WBC.
Jake rose to fame as a YouTube star but switched his focus to boxing in 2018, but he has limited fights against people trained primarily in the sport.
Of his 11 professional fights, only three have come against true boxers, and only one has been the same age and had the same experience as him.
