Conor McGregor, the former two-weight UFC champion, has expressed his disapproval of the upcoming boxing match between Mike Tyson and YouTuber Jake Paul. The fight, set to take place in Texas this summer, has drawn significant criticism, including from McGregor himself.
When the bout was first announced, McGregor voiced his concern for Tyson, stating: “Oh jeez. It’s a bit strange. The interest is low. I don’t know. I don’t understand it. I wish well for Mike.”
McGregor has since reiterated his views during an interview with SiriusXM, warning young athletes against aspiring to be YouTube fighters. Tearing apart the fight and its impact on the sport, he held nothing back in his damning assessment.
He said: “For me, it does set a bad precedent in the industry. Because what you’ve got now is – and I would say this to the young athletes coming up, men and women; don’t aspire to be one of these YouTube fighters. Aspire for world titles. Aspire for [the Olympics]. That is how you etch your name in history.”
He continued: “Doing these little smash-and-grab fights, you might get a few likes, but there’s nothing substantial to it. It’s hollow. It can be profitable, but it’s hollow.
“And I’m noticing a trend in young fighters coming up that are not even interested in competing in the amateur scene or rising up to win a national title. You need the gold on the waist. You need to etch your name on the belt.”
Paul has yet to confirm whether his upcoming fight with Tyson will be a professional bout, but he has made it clear that they have requested for the clash to be sanctioned. Speaking to FOX News, he said: “Mike and I want this to be a pro fight, full face shots. We’re submitting that request to the commission. It’s an all-out war.”, reports the Mirror.
He also dismissed rumours about the rules of the fight, stating: “There’s been all these fake videos about not being able to hit each other, and we’ll be wearing big gloves but it’s all fake news.
“It’s an honour to be in the ring with him but I’m confident I’ll have my hand raised. It’s going to be tough, he’s going to be getting inside but I believe I have the faster feet and faster hands and I’m going to be finding the angles.”