NEW YORK – Former heavyweight king Mike Tyson said Monday (Tuesday Manila time) his decision to step back into the ring at the age of 57 was a “no-brainer”, brushing off recent criticism that he was too old to make a comeback.
At a press conference in New York to promote his upcoming bout against YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul, Tyson admitted training for his return had taken a toll.
“I’m doing great but my body is [expletive] right now, I’m sore, I’m really sore,” said Tyson, who faces Paul on July 20 at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, that is home to the Dallas Cowboys NFL team.
But the boxer who terrorized the heavyweight division in the 1980s and 1990s as the self-styled “baddest man on the planet” insisted he had no reservations about lacing up his gloves again, nearly two decades after his last professional fi ght in 2005.
“It was a no-brainer,” said Tyson. “He’s a new up-and-coming guy on the scene. And I like shaking the sports world to its core and I am doing it now. It’s just something that I want to do.”
Tyson, who turns 58 in June, takes on the 27-year-old Paul in a professional bout comprising eight two-minute rounds that has been sanctioned by boxing authorities in Texas.
However several members of the boxing community, including former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, have voiced reservations about the fight, expressi ng concern Tyson could be hurt.
Tyson dismissed the doubters though when asked for his response on Monday.
“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” Tyson said. “The people who said that wish that they were up here. No one else can do this.”
Paul meanwhile said he is ready to deal with Tyson’s experience and power.
“A lot of people are doubting me,” Paul said. “I see the comments, saying, ‘if Jake wins this fight it’s rigged’ because of how incredible he looks. Age doesn’t matter.
“He’s a killer. He’s a warrior. He’s been doing this his whole life so it’s second nature to him. I’ve only been doing this for four years and at a super high level.
“On July 20, I’m going to show the world that I can outbox Mike Tyson and prove everyone wrong, and show that I’m going to be the one doing the killing.”
Tyson, meanwhile, said he held no animosity toward his much younger opponent.
“I really like Jake a lot. But once he’s in that ring, he has to fight like his life is depending on it, because it will be,” Tyson quipped.
The former heavyweight icon even refused to rule out further fights down the line.
“Maybe we’ll do it again,” Tyson said. “But can I take care of Jake first, please?”
MANILA, Philippines – Jana Diaz kept the momentum of her recent two-title romp, reasserting her dominance across two divisions, while Al Tristan Licayan mirrored her success in the boys’ category in the Dr. Pablo Olivarez Sr. National Junior Tennis Championships in Sucat, Parañaque over the weekend.
Diaz lived up to her top seeding in 16-and-under division, flashing formidable skill by conceding just eight points in four matches. Her imposing 6-0, 6-2 victory over Cadee Dagoon set the tone for the rising Bacoor, Cavite star’s subsequent triumphs. In the semis of the 18-and-U class, she upended second seed Joy Ansay, 6-1, 6-2, then blasted No. 1 Sandra Bautista, 6-3, 6-1, in the finals.
Those feats matched her achievements in the San Jose SALT tournament in Valenzuela City as Diaz continued to reap honors and pile up ranking points in the circuit sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis Ranking.
Licayan, from Gen, Trias, Cavite, also captured two titles in the Group 2 tournament, drubbing Alexandre Coyiuto, 6-4, 6-2, in the 16-and-U finals, then scoring a 7-5, 5-1(ret.) victory over Ariel Cabaral for the 18-and-U trophy.
Other winners in the five-day tournament held at the Olivarez Sports Center and Parañaque courts were Dagoon and Coyiuto (14-and-U), Ella Mhae Paglalunan and Jan Caleb Villeno (12-and-U), and Yuan Torrente (10-and-U unisex).
Meanwhile, Ormoc City, headed by Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, will host the next PPS-PEPP leg on May 16-20 at the Ormoc Midtown courts, coinciding with the Kalibo leg at the Capitol Tennis Club. For details, contact event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Dagoon and Coyiuto bounced back from their setbacks in the 16-and-U finals as they dominated their age-group in varying fashions. Dagoon shut down Ayl Gonzaga, 6-0, 6-0, while Coyiuto held off Mikael Honrado, 6-3, 6-4.
Paglalunan, on the other hand, stunned top seed Athena Liwag, 6-0, 6-3, while Villeno survived Aaron Coyiuto, 6-7(2), 7-6(5),10-3, in one of the fiercely-fought contests in the event held as part of the PPS-PEPP junior program initiated by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Torrente turned back Raven Licayan, 5-4(2), 4-0, to rule the youngest category of the event presented by Dunlop and supported by Icon Golf and Sports.
Diaz actually made it a three-title romp as she later teamed up with Erynne Ong to win the 18-and-U doubles title with Cabaral and Alexandre Coyiuto clinching the boys’ diadem. Other winners were Gonzaga and Paglalunan, and Matteo Calingasan and Troan Vytiaco (14-and-U) and Jacob Dizon and Raven Licayan (10-and-U unisex).