Mike Tyson: Professor Highlights Health Risks Boxing Legend Faces if He Fights Jake Paul

• Mike Tyson is set to fight Jake Paul in an exhibition bout in July
• Iron Mike is 30 years older than the young Youtuber-turned-boxer
• A doctor has warned Tyson that he runs the risk of a serious injury

Mike Tyson has been warned that he risks some serious health complications should be proceed with the planned fight against Youtuber Jake Paul.

Last week, it was confirmed that the legendary boxer, 58, would make a sensational return to the ring for an exhibition match against Paul on July 20.

The two will face each other at the 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, which is home to American football giants Dallas Cowboys.

News of the upcoming fight, which will be streamed on Netflix, has been met with mixed reviews, with sections of fans and pundits claiming the bout would degrade the quality of boxing, considering the 30-year-old age gap between Tyson and Paul.

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From a financial standpoint, however, the fight makes sense, with UFC legend Henry Cejudo suggesting in a podcast that Mike Tyson could make up to 20 million dollars from the fight, per Marca.

Mike Tyson’s health risks

Since the fight announcement, Mike Tyson, whose last professional bout came in 2005, has been sharing training clips on social media to entice fans.

To be fair the 57-year-old looks great for his age, and his agility and movement shows he is still capable of putting up a great show.

However, Senior Lecturer in Medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, Stephen Hughes is not convinced battling in the ring at his age could be the best move for Mike Tyson.

Hughes published an article in The Conversation highlighting the risks Tyson was putting himself up against and the potential injuries he could suffer.

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“In older people, the brain tends to lose volume,” Hughes wrote.

"This lengthens the bridging veins and makes them more vulnerable to rupture."

According to the professor, Tyson’s past battle with alcoholism also puts him at a disadvantage since excessive drinking is associated with ‘brain shrinkage’.

“Middle age sees an increase in the likelihood of cardiac events such as arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), angina (reduced blood flow to heart muscles), and myocardial infarction (heart attack)."

Tyson, nicknamed the ‘baddest man on the planet’, is aware of the threat Jake Paul poses and once credited the internet sensation for his meteoric rise to stardom.

“He’s grown significantly as a boxer over the years, so it will be a lot of fun to see what the will and ambition of a kid can do with the experience and aptitude of a GOAT,” the 57-year-old said.

Mike Tyson shows off ripped physique

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on Mike Tyson’s physical condition ahead of the Jake Paul fight.

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Jake Paul is arguably in his athletic prime at 27, while Mike Tyson is pushing 58 by the time the fight rolls by.

In a video he shared on his social media, Tyson looked like he was in great shape and showed incredible agility for his age as he threw some jabs at his trainer.