Oleksandr Usyk has refused to join critics of Jake Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson.
Paul and Tyson have received widespread criticism after announcing their July 20 showdown, given the ex-heavyweight world champion will be 58-years-old when he laces up his gloves again.
‘Iron’ recently confirmed that the event will take place under exhibition rules, which will ease fans’ fears to some extent although KOs could still be a possibility.
Unified heavyweight champion Usyk, who faces a huge clash with Tyson Fury for the undisputed titles on May 18, has refused to pile further heat on the showdown.
He told Seconds Out: “Listen, listen, it just shows, Tyson is a big, big famous man, who is well known around the world.
“Yeah, Jake Paul is young guy who won at boxing who wants to help young guys but it’s a big show.
“If people want to see the show, OK, give it to them. For me, I think it’s OK.”
It is no surprise that the event will take place, given Tyson is a huge name and looks set to pocket a mega $20 million purse for the event.
It is set to captivate a global audience, particularly given it will be broadcast on streaming service Netflix.
Tyson has been regularly posting training footage from camp, as he looks to prove he is still in shape and ready to fight.
His trainer has already suggested that camp has began positively and he will be adequately prepared for the challenge ahead.
The boxing icon himself has furiously lashed out at those who have questioned the event, suggesting they are simply ‘jealous’.
Tyson responded to Reuters: “I’m 58 and what? I’m getting billions of views from just talking to somebody about fighting.
“Everybody, even most of the athletes, they’re jealous, that’s whack. I say in your prime you couldn’t draw a million people, man.
“What are you talking, you couldn’t sell out arena. Who at 58 could sell out an 80,000-seat arena?
“Why you think he wants to fight me and not anybody else? Everybody wants to fight him, all the boxers want to fight him.
“But if he fought them the only people that will come are the people that like him. The other guys, their parents might not even come watch them.
“That’s just keeping it real. They’re too boring for their children to watch, it’s like watching grass grow.”
